The elephant in the brain
by Kevin Simler, Robin Hanson · first published 2018
65% recommend35% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Argues that people hide selfish, status-driven motives from themselves, and applies this to education, medicine, charity, art, and office politics. Suits readers who want a fresh, unflattering view of everyday behavior.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"This book exposes our unconscious selfish motives, those we're reluctant to discuss or even think about. These motives drive our body language, laughter, and conversation, as well as venerated institutions like art, school, charity, medicine, politics, and religion"--
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…developers!!!) Bargaining For Advantage (reasonable) Tempo: Timing, Tactics and Strategy in Narrative-Driven Decision Making (abstract as hell but rewarding) Thinking Fast and Slow (loved it) The Elephant In The Brain (seriously underrated) The Brain That Changes Itself (inspirationally freaky) The Power of Habit (good!) The Secret Barrister (mildly disturbing) Thinking In Systems (huge fan of this book!) A Short…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗…is read widely and taken up by people in their day-to-day lives. Same goes for the stoics, most religions, secular humanism, and so on. All the more reason to read widely! I should also recommend The Elephant in the Brain (Simler/Hanson), which synthesizes existing research to show how people are not merely ignorant of their true motives - rather, they actively deceive themselves as to what those motives are in order to…
on “Origins of the myth of dopamine as the ‘pleasure chemical’” ↗There's a marvelous book The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life Hardcover by Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson which argues convincingly that we are often pushed by motives we don't recognize, and do things for reasons other than what…
on “The head of luxury at Facebook and Instagram” ↗A great book to realize that the reasons people give for what they do are not the real reasons is Elephant in the Brain https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Brain-Hidden-Motives-Everyda... A great book to realize that the reasons you give for what you do are not the real reasons is Strangers to Ourselves https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Ourselves-Discovering-Adapt...
on “Your compliance obligations under the UK’s Online Safety Bill” ↗…that the only evidence to back this point up is (1) "look, a bunch of people donated to the NY opera!" and (2) "look what some effective altruist said; he must represent all altruists" The book 'The Elephant in the Brain' by Robin Hanson and Kevin Simler describes this position and has references to a lot of research.
on “Against Effective Altruism” ↗Great video. I think the book The Elephant in the Brain is required reading in this context: http://elephantinthebrain.com/
on “You Can Always Get What You Want, But Not What You Need (2016) [video]” ↗…Clear - But What If We're Wrong - Chuck Klosterman - Conspiracy - Ryan Holiday - The Courage To Be Disliked - Ichiro Kishimi - Elements of Fiction: Characters & Viewpoint - Orson Scott Card - The Elephant In The Brain - Robin Hanson & Kevin Simler - Good Strategy Bad Strategy - Richard Rumelt - Gridiron Genius - Michael Lombardi - The Longevity Diet - Valter Longo - Open - Andre Agassi - Warriors & Worriers -…
on “Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018?” ↗…error rate, but not systematic biases. I think human reason mainly evolved for (as you said) getting ahead socially, and only secondarily for solving object-level problems. There's a good recent book, The elephant in the brain.
on “Ideology Impairs Sound Reasoning” ↗Recently: Enlightenment Now, by Steven Pinker, and The Elephant in the Brain (by Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson), two books which share the quality of being bold and courageous in their claims, which go against huge parts of the "common discourse".
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗The Elephant in the Brain - Hidden motives in everyday life (Kevin Simler & Robin Hanson) Finally human behaviour makes perfect sense.
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗* Elephant in the brain - the hidden motives we all follow, should be required reading before people come up with policy improvements to the world * Sapians - great for a global view of our history, and an understanding of…
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗I can't recommend his book with Robin Hanson, The Elephant in the Brain, enough, it will change the way you view the world forever
on “Going Critical” ↗…a truly rare breed. Two of my favorite books on motivated reasoning and self-deception: Strangers to Ourselves, by Timothy D. Wilson: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674013827 The Elephant in the Brain, by Robin Hanson & Kevin Simler: http://elephantinthebrain.com/
* The Origin of Wealth * Elephant in the Brain * A Random Walk Down Wall Street * Why Buddhism Is True * Digital Minimalism
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗"The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life" It gives you an alternative perspective on art, school, charity, politics (including office politics), religion, and, well, yourself. This book will likely make you…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗