The Perils of Perception: Why Were Wrong About Nearly Everything

(Paperback, Main)

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Do you eat too much sugar What proportion of your country are immigrants What does it cost to raise a child How much tax do the rich pay Are we more ignorant than we used to be

Take a minute to answer these questions. No matter how educated you are, this book suggests you are likely to be very wrong indeed. Informed by exclusive research across 40 countries, conducted by global polling firm Ipsos, The Perils of Perception investigates why we don't know basic facts about the world around us. Using the latest research into the media and decision science, this book will transform the way you engage with the world.

Reviews

Mandatory reading. This mind-altering book show how most of us are badly deluded about the state of the world. * Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now *
Fascinating -- Nick Butler * Financial Times *
Illuminating and important. Duffy has spent a decade finding the gaps between our perceptions and reality. The result is this fascinating study. * Dan Gardner co-author of Superforecasting *
A superb and timely analysis of a genuine and growing threat to democratic debate. * Alastair Campbell author and former Downing Street Press Secretary *
Simply indispensable. Marrying fascinating data with superb analysis, this is a unique book. * Matthew d'Ancona, Editor-in-Chief, Drugstore Culture, and author of Post-Truth *
A tour-de-force. Required reading for all engaged citizens of the world. * Dame Louise Casey former senior British government official and former Deputy Director of Shelter *
A masterful overview of how our perceptions are repeatedly off the mark. Consequential and timely. * David Halpern Chief Executive of the Behavioural Insights Team *
Interesting and well-informed. An invaluable guide. Duffy is a voice of calm reason amidst all our anxieties about a post-truth world. -- Lord David Willetts, former Conservative Party MP - Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation
A great read that will help you get a better fix on reality. This book will help you understand why many of the things you think are probably wrong. * Hetan Shah, Executive Director, The Royal Statistical Society *
Fantastic: there are eye-opening and shocking statistics on every page. Perils of Perception may force you to reconsider your most deeply held views. * Jamie Bartlett author of The People Vs Tech *
Eye-opening * Daily Business *
Clear, balanced and cautious... [It] manages to be optimistic about the state of the world without being complacent about what still needs improvement. * Make Wealth History *

Author Bio

Bobby Duffy is Director of The Policy Institute at King's College London. He was previously Managing Director of the Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute and Global Director of Ipsos Social Research Institute. Previously he has been seconded to the British Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and to the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) at the London School of Economics.