{"product_id":"the-uses-of-delusion-stuart-vyse-9780190079857","title":"The Uses of Delusion: Why It's Not Always Rational to Be Rational","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eA fascinating examination of delusional thinking and how it might benefit health, relationships, and wellbeing\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAlthough reason and rationality are our friends in almost all contexts, in some cases people are better off putting reason aside. In a number of very important situations, we benefit by not seeing the world as it is, and by not behaving like logic-driven machines. Sometimes we know we aren't making sense, and yet we are compelled to act against reason; in other cases, our delusions are so much a part of normal human experience that we are unaware of them. As intelligent as we are, much of what has helped humans succeed as a species is not our prodigious brain power but something much more basic. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Uses of Delusion \u003c\/em\u003eis about aspects of human nature that are not altogether rational but, nonetheless, help us achieve our social and personal goals. Psychologist Stuart Vyse presents a lively, accessible exploration of the psychological concepts behind \"useful delusions\", fleshing out how delusional thinking may play a role in love and relationships, illness and loss, and personality and behavior. Along the way Vyse draws on the work of William James, Daniel Kahneman, and Joan Didion - who wrote about her compelling belief that her husband, though deceased, would soon return to her. Throughout, Vyse strives to answer the question: why would some of our most illogical beliefs be as helpful as they are? The concluding chapter offers an explanation grounded in natural selection - the ability to fool ourselves, Vyse argues, has actually helped us to survive. In the final pages of \u003cem\u003eThe Uses of Delusion\u003c\/em\u003e, Vyse offers suggestions for determining when reason should rule and when intuition and emotion should be allowed to take over.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Stuart Vyse\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0190079851\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780190079857\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/02\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 216\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.90h x 6.00w x 1.00d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2023","brand":"Stuart Vyse","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44054764421375,"sku":"9780190079857","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_30a1f3cc-b49e-46a1-b162-a087c543c8c1.jpg?v=1685031860","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-uses-of-delusion-stuart-vyse-9780190079857","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}