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Suggestible You: The Curious Science of Your Brain's Ability to Deceive, Transform, and Heal Hardcover – November 8, 2016

by Erik Vance (Author)

4.4 295 ratings

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National Geographic's riveting narrative explores the world of placebos, hypnosis, false memories, and neurology to reveal the groundbreaking science of our suggestible minds. Could the secrets to personal health lie within our own brains? Journalist Erik Vance explores the surprising ways our expectations and beliefs influence our bodily responses to pain, disease, and everyday events. Drawing on centuries of research and interviews with leading experts in the field, Vance takes us on a fascinating adventure from Harvard’s research labs to a witch doctor’s office in Catemaco, Mexico, to an alternative medicine school near Beijing (often called “China’s Hogwarts”). Vance’s firsthand dispatches will change the way you think—and feel.

Expectations, beliefs, and self-deception can actively change our bodies and minds. Vance builds a case for our “internal pharmacy”—the very real chemical reactions our brains produce when we think we are experiencing pain or healing, actual or perceived. Supporting this idea is centuries of placebo research in a range of forms, from sugar pills to shock waves; studies of alternative medicine techniques heralded and condemned in different parts of the world (think crystals and chakras); and most recently, major advances in brain mapping technology. Thanks to this technology, we're learning how we might leverage our suggestibility (or lack thereof) for personalized medicine, and Vance brings us to the front lines of such study.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An eye-opening exploration of the intersection between philosophy and science and a fascinating peek into our innermost selves." —Kirkus Reviews

"Science journalist Vance takes an inspired journey into the profound and often unnoticed powers of our brains." —Publishers Weekly

About the Author

ERIK VANCE is an award-winning science writer based in California and Mexico City. Raised as a Christian Scientist, he graduated with honors from the Christian Science school, Principia College in 1999 with a degree in biology. After working as a scientist on research projects dealing with dolphin intelligence and coastal ecology, he became an educator and then an environmental consultant. In 2005, he attended UC Santa Cruz’s famed science communication program and discovered a passion for journalism. There he learned that only through compelling characters can stories touch and inspire us. Since then, he has built his career around science-based profiles of inspiring, dedicated, or controversial figures in society. His work has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times, The Utne Reader, Scientific American, and National Geographic. He is also a contributing editor at Discover magazine.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ National Geographic; First Edition (November 8, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1426217897
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1426217890
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 0.9 x 9.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #986,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #722 in Medical Neuropsychology
- #829 in Neuroscience (Books)
- #1,351 in Popular Neuropsychology

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4.4 295 ratings

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Erik Vance

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Erik Vance is a native Bay Area writer replanted in Mexico as a non-native species. Before becoming a writer he was, at turns, a biologist, a rock climbing guide, an environmental consultant, and an environmental educator.

His work focuses on the human element of science – the people who do it, those who benefit from it, and those who do not. He has written for The New York Times, Nature, Scientific American, Harper’s, National Geographic, and a number of other local and national outlets.

His first book, Suggestible You, about how the mind and body continually twist and shape our realities was inspired by his feature in Discover and is available on Amazon.

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Customers find the book informative and interesting. They enjoy reading it and consider it a valuable resource for anyone interested in health, wellness, and human recovery from illness and pain. The writing style is well-presented and humorous.

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23 customers mention "Insight"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and engaging. They appreciate the author's insights and understanding of the mind. The book is described as a page-turner for a science-referenced work of non-fiction.

"...You" is more investigative and historical, along with being science-based, where "Placebo" is anecdotal and goes more into the parts of..." Read more

"This is an excellent review of a topic that has significant implications for human potentials." Read more

"...difficult topic with great insight, humility, and understanding, weaving knowledge, insight, and perspective into engaging stories that encapsulate..." Read more

"This book is a mine full of gold (which could be fools gold, if you're so inclined)...." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it informative and worth reading for anyone interested in health, wellness, and human recovery from illness and pain. The book provides an excellent review of a topic with significant implications for humans.

"...I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's written in somewhat of a Mythbusters style, and the author has a great sense of humor...." Read more

"This is an excellent review of a topic that has significant implications for human potentials." Read more

"Good stuff." Read more

"This book was well documented but also really enjoyable to read...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and informative. They appreciate the author's sense of humor and presentation style. While it isn't groundbreaking, it's presented in an open-minded way that allows readers to consider the placebo effect and power.

"...I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's written in somewhat of a Mythbusters style, and the author has a great sense of humor...." Read more

"...His writing and storytelling are masterful. For me, every page of every chapter spurred introspection...." Read more

"...While the information he presents isn't groundbreaking, it is well presented...." Read more

"...this book 5 stars because it's high time that we take a good, open minded look at the placebo effect and power of suggestion...." Read more

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Kindle Customer
Woo-woo not included
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
Fascinating read. I picked it up on the recommendation of a person who reviewed "You are the Placebo" by Joe Dispenza. "Suggestible You" is more investigative and historical, along with being science-based, where "Placebo" is anecdotal and goes more into the parts of the brain and brain function. I went with audible on "Suggestible" and wasn't sorry. At the end there is a sample meditation/hypnosis exercise that was worth the extra 4 bucks with my Kindle edition.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's written in somewhat of a Mythbusters style, and the author has a great sense of humor. For those of us who wonder about all kinds of strange things but are turned off by magical thinking, pseudo science, and woo-woo, this book is quite satisfying.

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56 people found this helpful

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W. L. McCraney
The potentials we overlook.
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2017
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This is an excellent review of a topic that has significant implications for human potentials.

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One person found this helpful

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A Careful Reader
Great Book by a Great Writer
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2019
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If I could give "Suggestible You" 10 out of 5 stars, I would. Erik Vance treats a difficult topic with great insight, humility, and understanding, weaving knowledge, insight, and perspective into engaging stories that encapsulate the essence of the science, belief, and expectations at the heart of suggestibility.

His writing and storytelling are masterful. For me, every page of every chapter spurred introspection. Having read reams of court documents and research on false, implanted memories, I wish judges and prosecutors would read this book. It could prevent innocent people from suffering the horrors of prison.

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One person found this helpful

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John Jones
Amazing
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2021
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This book is a mine full of gold (which could be fools gold, if you're so inclined). As the author says, we get what we expect, and often times our expectations are based on what we believe, regardless of the validity. If we believe we are flawed/sinful creatures then a world of suffering is ours. And conversely, when we see ourselves as perfection personified, suffering ends.

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Bill Westmoreland
Does it really work. Try it!
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2016
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Good stuff.

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One person found this helpful

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Lisa Eudy
Great condition!
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
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The book is in perfect condition!

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Jeffrey H. Mindich
Good information but flawed
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2018
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I had mixed feelings about how many stars to give this book. On the one hand, the author highlights some very important points about how important our mind and mindset is when it comes to influencing our physiology for better or worse. While the information he presents isn't groundbreaking, it is well presented. However, I must take strong exception to the author's implication that any type of healing that takes place outside of conventional medicine must all be attributed to the placebo effect.

One place this is especially evident is his take on traditional Chinese medicine, suggesting it works only as a result of the Chinese believing it is effective because otherwise it wouldn't have been used for thousands of years, and offers quotes to that effect. For one, the author misstates several things about traditional Chinese medicine, including grouping massage and reflexology as a part of it, which is actually not accurate. Meridians in traditional Chinese medicine are not on the bottom of the foot.

He also claims that since different Chinese doctors might prescribe different combinations of herbal prescriptions for a similar problem, that it must be placebo because it works regardless. Chinese herbals are not sugar pills, but contain various chemical compounds that affect our bodies just as modern pharmaceuticals do. In fact, some modern pharmaceuticals were originally obtained from herbals. For example, digitalis was originally derived from foxglove, which is used as a Chinese medicine. There are more than a dozen conventional medicine pharmaceutical diuretics on the market. Does this mean they are placebos because any given one might work equally well for a patient?

No one is completely clear yet on why acupuncture works. Modern scientific equipment has been used to measure the electrical resistance at the areas of the acupuncture points and found it is different from other places in the skin. So there is something going on there. And while well-done studies on acupuncture are few and far between, a meta-data analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association led by a doctor from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center said, "In conclusion, we found acupuncture to be superior to both no-acupuncture control and sham acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain." The author quotes Harvard placebo researcher Ted Kaptchuk in his book. Dr. Kaptchuk is also one of the most well-known practitioners and authors of traditional Chinese medicine in the United States. If the author had contacted Dr. Kaptchuk I am sure he would have provided more accurate information on the practice.

Again, I found some interesting points in this book, but I am not sure I would recommend it for the shortcomings mentioned above.

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115 people found this helpful

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R. Johnston
logical explanations
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2017
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Vance turned around my view of placebos: now I'm sorry they don't work for me! Placebos tap into your body's own healing mechanisms, which otherwise might sit idle while you suffer. Similarly, hypnotism taps into a brain ability that some people have and others don't. If you have the ability to take advantage of these means, be glad! If you don't, learn what you can from them.

Nothing New Age woo-woo here, he's just talking to researchers who can give a little insight on why these things sometimes work.

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12 people found this helpful

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Ione Palmer
Erik Vance's book.
Reviewed in Canada on March 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book was full of interesting, fact-based information & was very well-written & explained in understandable lay terms. Erik Vance did a tremendous amount of research & presented his findings in a way that caught & kept your complete attention. His sense of humor was wonderful & made the information easier to grasp. A 10-star book!

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Abril Rayas
A Must Read .
Reviewed in Mexico on June 25, 2017
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Suggestible You is an enlightening read, from a scientific perspective, into how our expectations define the way our minds and bodies phisically respond to outside stimulae. A must-read for doctors, marketing experts, and anyone interested in the science of persuasion.

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iLeW
Un saggio esemplare
Reviewed in Italy on April 12, 2018
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Con un approccio pop-science, l'autore riesce perfettamente a spiegare i meccanismi della suggestione basati sulle ultime scoperte scientifiche. ll libro, corredato da riferimenti utilissimi per chi volesse andare "oltre", è un perfetto bilanciamento tra racconto e spiegazioni tecniche. Sebbene cali un po' nelle ultime 20 pagine, la qualità e la fruibilità sono altissime e mi sento di aggiungere che potrebbe diventare un classico per l'argomento.

Assolutamente consigliato per tutti coloro che vogliono conoscere meglio (anche per la prima volta) come il cervello umano reagisce agli stimoli diretti e indiretti della vita di tutti i giorni (e non solo) e imperdibile per tutti coloro che studiano la suggestione come strumento per spettacoli di illusionismo, in particolare ipnosi (no cialtroneria) e mentalismo. Una volta letto avrete una visione molto chiara di tutto quello che tratta e cioè di argomenti come: credenze, religione, ipnosi, marketing e tanto altro.

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Amazon Customer
Grea Read
Reviewed in Australia on October 28, 2018
Verified Purchase
Incredible, eye opening read on the power of the mind and the impact of placebo, nocebo, hypnosis, Chinese medicine, faith healing and more. Quite a read, easy to understand and follow, but tap into some big issues that we can all consider in regards to our own thoughts, beliefs and decision making processes.

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Arlene Rehaluk
Informative
Reviewed in Canada on September 24, 2021
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This is a valuable addition to the library for those of us seeking insight into social behavior. well worth my investment.

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