we say that making mistakes is human. but when they do happen, we’re quick to point fingers and hope we’re not somehow held responsible.
so what is it about error that makes us have these irrational thoughts and expectations? that’s the question the following two reads try to answer.
‘being wrong’ by kathryn schulz is a psychological and almost philosophical study of the life cycle of error. she starts by explaining how mistakes come to be, then looks at what unfolds the moment the mistake is uncovered (spoiler: the answer is change), and finally, the aftermath of that discovery.
‘mistakes were made (but not by me)’ by carol tavris and elliot aronson focuses purely on the psychological side—specifically, the mental gymnastics (or thought processes) we use to justify our mistakes. this mechanism, called cognitive dissonance, is so powerful it can lead to something close to delusion, where people cling to their beliefs despite clear evidence to the contrary.
i’m reviewing these two books together because i think they complement each other well. both are a bit older (2010 & 2015—yes, i’m working on reducing my tbr), but still incredibly relevant. both were also recommended by my teachers in my introductory psychology classes. and surprisingly, for two books from the same time on the same topic, there’s no overlap. not even in the examples.
and examples there were many. ranging from funny to grotesque, bewildering to downright outrageous. did you know that hundreds of thousands of people in and around new york sincerely believed the world would end in 1844?
i’d even go as far as to say that the examples are what make these books so compelling. not only do they do what they’re supposed to—illustrate—but they bring the books to life in a way only anecdotal storytelling can.
if you’re ready to shake your head in disbelief and maybe learn a few things about yourself in the process, one or both of these books might just be for you.
