The Strange & Exciting Science of Belief
“Can I please get some more of those placebo pills?”
tl/dr: Check out our awesome new episode of The Art Of The Zag on Nir Eyal’s new book Beyond Belief! Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Youtube.
Author Nir Eyal wins the award among my friends for “Most Likely To Say Yeah, But Does This Scientific Study Hold Up When You Try It Again?”
It’s a nerdy award for sure. But Nir is one of my favorite writers specifically because of how effectively he applies this skeptical lens to psychology and human behavior.
Needless to say, I was quite surprised a few months ago when he announced this new book with a bunch of heavenly rays shooting out of the word “BELIEF”:
Some would say that “science” and “belief” are opposites.
At first glance, it might sound woo-woo, but in fact, Beyond Belief is the opposite. It’s about the neuroscience and psychology of how beliefs alter our perceptions, and it’s endlessly fascinating.
Which is why Joe Lazer and I interviewed Nir for The Art Of The Zag. You should definitely buy the book, but if you want a taste of what’s in store, check out this week’s episode, where you’ll find out:
How placebo pills are getting more effective in our society (and why they are so effective conditions like IBS, pain, and anxiety).
How the stories we tell ourselves literally alter what our eyes see and our ears hear.
Why therapy often doesn’t work, and how the “labels” we put on ourselves and others often hold us back.
How understanding how belief works at a scientific level can change your relationships in work and in life.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Youtube.
Also, this is the first of surely many podcast recordings where both my kid and dog invaded the room mid-interview. But like the true heroes we are, we all took it in stride!
Keep on believing. I hope you make a great day!
–Shane