The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking
How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy, and Sane

Matthew Hutson examines some of humankind's irrational beliefs and shows, through stories and examples, how the beliefs are types of coping mechanisms and can be consciously utilized for a better life. "These habits of the mind guide us through the world every day. In very basic ways they provide a s......more

I am going to pick on Mormonism for just a moment, because we have a Mormon running for President for the first time. However, I think Mormonism is unexceptional in the pantheon of religions, save for its relative youth. To be a Mormon requires that one believe all of the things a typical Christian b......more

Lightweight pop science by a not-particularly acute journalist. One interesting section, though, was on the importance of the illusion of control in determining people's feelings about a situation. Subject groups who believed they had more control over a situation than they actually did were always......more

First of, I don't get the title, for it kind of sounds self-helpish (something the book is not) and I never recall him saying anything about 7 laws, well, other than when he was talking about lucky numbers and said why he chose 7 instead of 6 or 8. I did enjoy the book for the most part, even though......more