Mindwise ─ How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want

From one of our leading social psychologists, an illuminating exploration of how the brain allows us to perceive and understand what other people are thinking-and the crucial limitations of this ability.

Humans are born mind readers. Our extraordinary ability to interpret the emotions, thoughts, and intentions of others is the basis of every personal and professional relationship we have-but this social intelligence is far from perfect. Now, in this fascinating study, Nicholas Epley introduces us to the latest research into the strengths and foibles of our social minds. He describes some of the common mistakes our minds make: how the socially active brain can go into overdrive and perceive "mind" in inanimate objects; how egocentrism can cause us to attribute our own beliefs to others, or leads us to believe that we are the center of attention; or that our embarrassing blunders are noticed by others who, in fact, are paying no attention to us at all. But he also suggests ways in which we can get past these errors, improve our social intelligence, and find the wisdom to better relate to our spouses, children, and colleagues-which, in turn, can lead us to a deeper understand of others, and of ourselves.

Nicholas Epley is the John T. Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Neubauer Family Faculty Fellow at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from Cornell University in 2001 and was an assistant professor in the department of psychology at Harvard University until 2005. His research has been funded continuously since 2002 by the National Science Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. He has written for The New York Times, as well as numerous journals in his field. He was named a "professor to watch" by the Financial Times, and is the winner of the 2008 Theoretical Innovation Prize from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. He lives in Chicago.