Book Review: How We Decide

What do airline pilots who discover a disastrous mechanical problem midflight, NFL quarterbacks who have a split second to make a game-saving throw, and backgammon-playing computers have in common? They all must make decisions, quickly and accurately, often without much time to analyze their choices.

How We Decide is a fascinating look at how they do it, and how the human mind makes all sorts of decisions. From everyday choices about what to eat, to major investment decisions, to crisis situations where the wrong choice can mean lost lives, author Jonah Lehrer examines how the brain makes up its mind about what to do. How do people make rational choices, and what if they don't have enough time to weigh all the evidence? Is there such a thing as thinking too much about a decision? What is the role of emotions, and can they hinder or even help the decision-making process? Lehrer examines a great deal of current pyschological research, giving his book some heft and authority, but he never becomes dull or overwhelming. This engrossing book sheds light on one of our biggest mysteries: how our own minds work. - Michelle (Sunset)