Description
Book SynopsisJust days after publishing his first book on the theory of foolishness, Stephen Greenspan learned that he had been hoodwinked by Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme, or more accurately the Madoff feeder fund he invested in. Greenspan published a featured essay on the topic in the Wall Street Journal a few weeks later, and that essay was widely cited and attracted great interest for Greenspan's ideas about gullibility and in the United States and many other countries. Greenspan's new book, The Anatomy of Foolishness, explains why and how individuals (of all ages and levels of intelligence) and organizations act in ways that undermine their interests and even their continued existence. He examines three types of foolishness, using vivid examples to illustrate each, including the many foolish actions of US President Donald Trump. Greenspan presents a multidimensional theory of foolishness that contributes to the literature on human competence, and this book is likely to attract broad interest i
Trade ReviewRead Stephen Greenspan’s new book on foolishness. It will change your life, no fooling! -- Robert B. Shilkret, from the foreword
If there is any topic that needs a book, it is foolishness, and everyone should read Stephen Greenspan's book to learn about what may be the biggest underlying problem facing the world today. Climate change, wars, terrorism, income disparities, antibiotic resistance—all have a common source in our human tendency to allow foolishness to override our intelligence and our common sense. -- Robert J. Sternberg, Cornell University
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations ... Foreword, by Richard B. Shilkret ... Preface ... Acknowledgments ... Part I. Overview of Foolishness ... One Popular and Religious Conceptions of Foolishness ... Two Foolishness as Inattention to Risk ... Three An Explanatory Model of Human Foolishness ... Four Factors That Contribute to Foolish Action ... Part II. Forms of Foolishness ... Five Practical Foolishness ... Six Non-induced Social Foolishness ... Seven Induced Social Foolishness ... Part III. Implications of Foolishness .. Eight Foolishness in Collectivities ... Nine Foolishness in Vulnerable Populations ... Ten Foolishness and Crime ... Part IV. From Foolishness to Wisdom ... Eleven What Makes Donald Trump a Fool? ... Twelve Some Advice for Surmounting Foolishness ... Thirteen In Pursuit of Common Sense ... References ... Index … About the Authors ...
