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The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking: How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy, and Sane Hardcover – April 12, 2012

by Matthew Hutson (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 189 ratings
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What is so special about touching a piano John Lennon once owned? Why do we yell at our laptops? What drove the Yankees to dig up the Red Sox jersey secretly buried beneath their new stadium? And what's up with the phrase "Everything happens for a reason"?

Psychologists have documented a litany of cognitive biases—misperceptions of reality—and explained their positive functions. Now, Matthew Hutson shows that all of us, even the staunchest skeptics, engage in magical thinking all the time—and that we can use it to our advantage, if we know how to outsmart it.

Drawing on cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, and anthropology, Hutson shows us that magical thinking has been so useful to us that it's hardwired into our brains. It encourages us to think that we actually have free will. It helps us believe that we have an underlying purpose in the world. It can even protect us from the paralyzing awareness of our own mortality. In other words, magical thinking is a completely irrational way of making our lives make sense.

With wonderfully entertaining stories, personal reflections, and sharp observations, Hutson has written a book that is entertaining, useful, and ever so slightly alarming.
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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hudson Street Press
  4. Publication date
    April 12, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781594630873
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1594630873
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
189 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and interesting. They describe it as a good, rational read that sheds light on irrational thinking and behavior. The humor is appreciated, with some finding it funny and creative. Opinions differ on the writing style - some find it nicely written and well-researched, while others consider it poorly written.

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Enlightened contentReadabilityHumorWriting style
18 customers mention "Enlightened content"14 positive4 negative

Customers find the book insightful and interesting. They say it sheds light on irrational thoughts and behaviors, which can promote helpful contemplation. The book is well-researched and written, providing a good overview of why we enjoy certain ways of thinking.

"...I like the way it's written, almost conversational in tone. I like the studies cited, the research and how it's presented. I like how it's organized...." Read more

"I am old. This book is an amusing, thoughtful analysis of how we get through life...." Read more

"Enjoyable read. Sheds light on the irrational things we all think and do. Now when I knock of wood, I know why I do it." Read more

"...slightly humorous conversational style that makes it easy to digest some complex points. Author is clearly smart and has done his research...." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enlightening. They find it a good, rational read about avoiding self-deception. The subject is interesting and original, making the book an enjoyable read.

"...I found `The Seven Laws of Magical Thinking' enlightening, entertaining, inspiring and empowering beyond words. Your mileage may vary, of course." Read more

"Enjoyable read. Sheds light on the irrational things we all think and do. Now when I knock of wood, I know why I do it." Read more

"...I believe this might have been therapeutic for the author, but a good rational book about avoiding the pitfalls of magical vs rational thinking it..." Read more

"...Love this book. Matthew Hutson's writing style is very enjoyable and filled with lots of interesting facts about our "magical thinking"...." Read more

6 customers mention "Humor"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find the narratives humorous, with a personal flavor.

"...I like how it's organized. I like the personal and often hilarious flavor to the narrative, including stories and experiences from the author's life..." Read more

"I am old. This book is an amusing, thoughtful analysis of how we get through life...." Read more

"...Nicely written with a personal, slightly humorous conversational style that makes it easy to digest some complex points...." Read more

"will written, well researched, and often creatively stunning and funny." Read more

15 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive8 negative

Customers have different views on the writing style. Some find it nice, humorous, and well-researched with a clear and concise style. Others feel it's not well-written, confusing, poorly organized, and lacking heart or soul.

"...However, for a guy who got an MA in science writing, it is not well written...." Read more

"...I like the way it's written, almost conversational in tone. I like the studies cited, the research and how it's presented. I like how it's organized...." Read more

"This book is confusing, poorly organized, and doesn't really make a point...." Read more

"...not many lay person summary texts on these subjects and it is reasonably well written." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kassi Dephinia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, Entertaining, Inspiring, Empowering
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book defined and answered to my satisfaction questions I couldn't put into words. I wondered why humans are predisposed to religion, superstition, and almost pathological pattern-seeking. I could see some purpose, and both positive and negative effects of various kinds of magical thinking, but I craved understanding. That's what I found in this book, in spades.

    I like the way it's written, almost conversational in tone. I like the studies cited, the research and how it's presented. I like how it's organized. I like the personal and often hilarious flavor to the narrative, including stories and experiences from the author's life to reveal where he's coming from. I really like the sense that the author is aware that your mileage may vary. I find a lot of books too rigid in their perspective, and this is especially frustrating in areas of psychology and philosophy, where it's obvious that people's perspectives vary wildly.

    I had so much fun reading this book; it was hard to put down. I found it enlightening beyond my wildest expectations. But though I only came for answers, I felt inspired and empowered. I felt I could not only understand magical thinking's use and impact on individuals, history, the species and culture, but also find awareness and acceptance of it in myself. At the end of the book I had more conscious choices over how I experience most everything I perceive. I also found myself thinking magically without effort. It felt much like when I read Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi's `Flow,' drawing the curtain to reveal an amazing experience I'm already having. And now can enjoy more.

    Rarely does a book to have such profound and lasting positive effect on me and my view of the world. I feel fortunate to have come across it as I did, relieved I was in the right place to really get the message, and delighted it was written in such an appealing style.

    I found `The Seven Laws of Magical Thinking' enlightening, entertaining, inspiring and empowering beyond words. Your mileage may vary, of course.
    33 people found this helpful
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  • Pauline LeBlanc
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very well written
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I am old. This book is an amusing, thoughtful analysis of how we get through life. It is nicely organized going from the mundane to the profound ideas of how we explain life and death to ourselves. I found myself pondering ideas I may have once learned about.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • I Love Lucy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful book
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyable read. Sheds light on the irrational things we all think and do. Now when I knock of wood, I know why I do it.
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  • Jon
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I hoped.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    It could be edited down since there is quite a bit of repetition. Also, it seems more like descriptive catagories than laws. Finally, though it started reasonably well, about a third of the way in it deviates into a philosophical discussion of causality, determinism and free agency. He uses physical science metaphors incorrectly -- they're incorrectly interpreted. Then he wades into a political discussion on Justice. It seems like a huge departure from the purpose of the book and he presents very weak arguments as though they are conclusive.

    That said, there are not many lay person summary texts on these subjects and it is reasonably well written.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • G-man
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    a very clear and concise investigation of how we think and what drives us to irrationally seeing magical connections and actions around us. Nicely written with a personal, slightly humorous conversational style that makes it easy to digest some complex points. Author is clearly smart and has done his research. Very enlightening
    5 people found this helpful
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  • DeeMee
    1.0 out of 5 stars Very poorly done.....gives rational thinking a bad name
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The book is terribly shallow. And the style of writing is like a machine gun of little tidbits of scientific research. It rarely stays on one particular study result for even a complete paragraph. Then makes big leaps in reasoning about what the mentioned research means. His interpretation may or may not be in line with quoted research as he gives little background or examination of the details before leaping off to his desired conclusion.

    He mentions for instance that fudge made in the shape of candy was found more palatable than if shaped like dog feces or vomit. Even when the test subjects knew what it was made of. Well okay great. I could have predicted that. And it doesn't put any credence to the idea people are magical rather than rational in their thinking. Biological creatures have reinforced behavioral experience that does bias them in reacting to things. Having a deep ingrained bias against dog poop and vomit even when you know it isn't doesn't indicate magical thinking. It indicates reinforced and reasonable perceptual bias in a biological creature.

    In another case he talks about a test where pictures of a friend or family member was placed at the center of a dart board and Hitler in another. Statistical analysis of people throwing darts showed a very slight, but statistically significant greater distance from the picture when it was a friend or relative. This is said to show that people believed in voodoo like principles that harming a representation of someone could also harm the real person. Well okay, again, this represents how biological beings differ from a computer or machine without really saying anything about magical thinking.

    And far, far too often little one or two sentence mentions of this or that research would be about 3 or 4 things in a single paragraph.

    And on top of that, far too many personal problems, indicative of the author's issues with 'magical' thinking (really just psychological problems) were included. They really added nothing to the topic of the book. Instead detracting and distracting significantly. In the end I believe this might have been therapeutic for the author, but a good rational book about avoiding the pitfalls of magical vs rational thinking it is not.

    Look elsewhere.
    44 people found this helpful
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  • ekobay
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best book to read about how amazingly silly we humans ...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best book to read about how amazingly silly we humans are with our "magical" beliefs! Love this book. Matthew Hutson's writing style is very enjoyable and filled with lots of interesting facts about our "magical thinking". Men especially with sports interests will get a real kick out of this book! As a woman . . . I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. A must read!
    17 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Bernhard Ninaus
    1.0 out of 5 stars Collection of storys/papers grouped in chapters...
    Reviewed in Germany on July 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Just a waste of time. It's a on purpose highly inflated book with storys and information gathered from papers. I don't like it, you may...
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  • Jack Harmony
    4.0 out of 5 stars Loved the book, some toughts but definetly something to say…
    Reviewed in Mexico on June 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The book is very good at exposing mannerisms in human behaviour. It gives good examples of the '7 Laws' he proposes, and, even tough he clearly has a bias towards a non-spiritual point of view, he says he does not know and tries to stay away on imposing it.

    That being said, this is one of those books that changes your own view of the world, here and there you'll begin to notice small customs you didn't even notice existed. Very good book, even if it fails in some places.
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  • Dim Sum Kid
    4.0 out of 5 stars Hocus Pokus
    Reviewed in Canada on May 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    An insight book on our own perception of the world and our wistful thinking, that may or may not come to pass.
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  • allwillbewell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Sounds like an airy-fairy dream catcher-y book of the kind I wouldn't enjoy at all, but is in fact a well argued, sensible and fascinating look at the ways in which 'magical thinking' permeates the thoughts of even the most sceptical of us. Genuinely thought provoking and original.
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  • Eduard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating
    Reviewed in Spain on April 13, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Very well-researched and written; the author has a remarkable ability at synthesizing and organizing disperse information in meaningful ways. The book’s subtitle ('How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy, and Sane') is misleading, though —what Hutson really shows, and knows, it’s that, at most, some side-effects of magical thinking, if intelligently addressed, can be made to work for you and not against you.
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