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Quirkology: How We Discover the Big Truths in Small Things Paperback – September 30, 2008

by Richard Wiseman (Author)

62 customer reviews

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For over twenty years, psychologist Richard Wiseman has examined the quirky science of everyday life. In Quirkology, he navigates the oddities of human behavior, explaining the tell-tale signs that give away a liar, the secret science behind speed-dating and personal ads, and what a person's sense of humor reveals about the innermost workings of his or her mind—all along paying tribute to others who have carried out similarly weird and wonderful work. Wiseman's research has involved secretly observing people as they go about their daily business, conducting unusual experiments in art exhibitions and music concerts, and even staging fake séances in allegedly haunted buildings. With thousands of research subjects from all over the world, including enamored couples, unwitting pedestrians, and guileless dinner guests, Wiseman presents a fun, clever, and unexpected picture of the human mind.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Wiseman, Ph.D., is Professor of Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is also a practicing magician and was one of the youngest members of The Magic Circle. Wiseman has published over forty papers in academic journals, and gained an international reputation for research into unusual areas of psychology, including deception, luck, and the paranormal. He is the author of eight books, including The Luck Factor, which has been sold in twenty-five countries. He lives in London, England.

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Basic Books (September 30, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0465010237
ISBN-13: 978-0465010233
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 62 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #330 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Research
- #946 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Applied Psychology
- #1034 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Sexuality

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Amazon Customer

February 14, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I bought this book, but it turned out to be a lot like the book Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.) - only Dr. Wiseman's book is much, much better. Wiseman says that: "Put simply, quirkology uses scientific methods to study the more curious aspects of everyday life. This approach to psychology has been pioneered by a few researchers over the past hundred years who have followed in Galton's footsteps and had the courage to explore the places mainstream scientists avoid."

Hopefully the chapters can give you a gist as to what you will find in this book: Chapter 1 - What does your date of birth really say about you?, The New Science of Chronopsychology; Chapter 2 - Trust everyone, but always cut the cards, The Psychology of Lying and Deception; Chapter 3 - Believing six impossible things before breakfast, Psychology Enters the Twilight Zone; Chapter 4 - Making your mind up, The Strange Science of Decision Making; Chapter 5 - The scientific search for the world's funniest joke, Explorations into the Psychology of Humor; Chapter 6 - Sinner or saint?, The Psychology of When We Help and When we Hinder; Chapter 7 - The pace of life and other quirkological oddities, The Future of Quirkology.

In short, this is a terrific book. In many respects it shares a lot in common with not only Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics, but also books like Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions (Revised & Expanded Edition),The Mind of the Market: How Biology and Psychology Shape Our Economic Lives,Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average and How We Decide. I highly recommend this book and also recommend Wiseman's newest book, 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (Borzoi Books). I would definitely have given this book 5 starts even if it only had included the chapters on Lying and Deception and The Scientific Search for the World's Funniest Joke - the whole book is hilarious, entertaining and above all, informative. This is a truly great read.

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JudithTop Contributor: Jigsaw Puzzles

Fun read

September 12, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a collection of info about oddball tests and studies conducted by psychologists. Much of the information is very entertaining. It's a "good read." However, does the alleged fact that women who drive vans are the most likely to sneak more than ten items through the express checkout in the supermarket really matter? Time after time, while reading this book, I wondered, why would anybody study this. Its fun fodder for talk around the water cooler, but pretty much meaningless. Also, I think some of the conclusions that were drawn from these studies were giant leaps of speculation. The author is an entertaining writer. This is the second book of his that I have read and enjoyed. However, if you are looking for something serious about psychological research, this isn't it. I do recommend this book. I enjoy Wiseman, and will continue to read his books.

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Long term customerTop Contributor: Star Trek

Why you should not discuss movies on a first date

June 22, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I enjoy books of this genre and this was no exception. Much of the material here has been written about in other books, nevertheless, this was enough of a twist that I enjoyed it.
Highlights: good tips on writing personal ads and what happened when a "Chinese gentleman" called hotels all over the country for reservations some 70 years ago. The answer might surprise you.

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An excellent source of cocktail party chat

October 1, 2007

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Richard Wiseman is an experimental psychologist and professor of "public understanding of psychology." In this book, he discusses dozens of experiments performed by himself and other psychologists around the world over the course of the last hundred years. All these experiments have in common is unusual research methodology or amusing results.

Each experiment is described in as little as a paragraph, or as much as a chapter. Old favorites like the Milgram "Obediance to Authority" experiments make an appearance, and some of the recent experiments discussed got a lot of press ("what is the funniest joke in the world"), but most of the content will be new to most readers.

Topics include studies of personal ads and pickup lines, determining which are most effective, how to detect liars, manifestations of prejudice and hypocrisy (are religious people or priests more honest or generous than others? it has been tested). Wiseman even ran tests to see which experiments in the book are the most interesting, to help the reader know what would be the best conversation starters at parties.

Unusually for a mass market book, it is copiously footnoted.

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Most recent customer reviews

Saman Asawapoom

Two Stars

I might no have enough knowledge to grab the whoe

Published on July 14, 2016

Five Stars

Fantastic!!!!!

Published on March 10, 2016

Marku

I wish I could give this book a 4.5 star rating, since it is that good

I may be biased already, since I already own 3 of Wiseman's books. However, this is my first 4-star review of his book.Read more

Published on January 5, 2016

Kirk P.

Exploring the Backwaters of the Human Brain

Very interesting approach and topics that often escape our rational mind. The introduction explains it all: Exploring the Backwaters of the Human Brain

Published on October 15, 2015

Robin M. Elston

A+

Awesome book by an awesome man! (Also, the author has a Youtube channel with a lot of cool things like you read in the book. BUT DEFINITELY READ THE BOOK.Read more

Published on August 21, 2015

Justine Vogel

interesting and fun

Interesting and fun. Short chapters that make it easy to put down and pick up, but you won't want to put it down

Published on July 3, 2015

Karen M. Seibert

Five Stars

Very nice item, even better than pictured.

Published on February 18, 2015

Karen M. Seibert

Five Stars

Very nice item, even better than pictured.

Published on February 18, 2015

Ed Brandt

It is not for the people who do not enjoy scientific discoveries

"Quirkology" is really and truly fascinating nonfiction work. But only if you are up for a scientific read.Read more

Published on January 26, 2015

Tracy Adkins

condition as described

Published on September 22, 2014

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