David Robson author photo

David Robson

David Robson is a British science writer focused on psychology, neuroscience, medicine, and human behaviour. A former New Scientist editor and BBC journalist, he wrote The Intelligence Trap, The Expectation Effect, and The Laws of Connection. His work has won science-journalism honors, and The Intelligence Trap has been translated into fifteen languages. ((https://us.macmillan.com/author/davidrobson))

Biography & Author's Journey

David Robson is a British science writer whose work sits at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, health, and behavior. His interest in the subject began early: he has traced part of it to the IQ test he took for entry to secondary school, an experience that later fed his scrutiny of how societies define intelligence. After reading mathematics at Cambridge University, he spent five years as a features editor at New Scientist and another five as a senior journalist at BBC Future, before broadening his bylines across outlets including the Guardian, the Atlantic, Aeon, Men’s Health, and the Washington Post. ((https://davidrobson.me/the-intelligence-trap-post/?utm_source=openai))

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Quotes

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It gives me the freedom to explore cutting-edge research and to discuss some mind-blowing ideas with some of the world’s most inspiring scientists, and to meet people with some truly extraordinary (and sometimes heart-breaking) experiences
-Welcome!
quote
Having written a book about our most common reasoning errors, I would argue that Twain was being rather uncharitable – to monkeys
-How to win a political argument
quote
But psychological science has revealed many other reasons that people fail to use their intelligence – and by knowing them we can all learn to avoid them
-What is the intelligence trap? A taxonomy of stupidity
quote
While others diligently follow the same convoluted path, people with the strategic mindset are constantly looking for a more efficient route forwards
-The Strategic Mindset, the Batman Effect, and more
quote
In the long-term, these expectations can become a powerful self-fulfilling prophecy – people with the “stress is enhancing” mindset are less likely to die of heart disease, even if they experience a high amount of stress in their daily lives, than people with the “stress is damaging” mindset
-Thinking like a Norwegian
quote
Humbler people learn quicker, and are better communicators and decision makers — and inspire better problem solving in their teams too
-Five ways to boost “collective intelligence”
quote
By outsourcing their “thinking” in this way, they are capable of much more complicated behaviours than you would expect from a typical invertebrate
-The mind in the web
quote
Whether you are trying to master a language, a sport, or a musical instrument, psychological research shows that your learning will benefit from so-called “desirable difficulties” and moments of confusion
-How to become a super-learner – whatever your IQ
quote
But the harsh truth is that unless you happen to be a famous film star, you are probably the last thing on their minds. And depending on how you feel about yourself, that fact is either depressing or deeply reassuring
-The psychological study to cure shyness
quote
Although recent scientific research hasn’t explicitly examined “misology”, Socrates’s term perfectly describes the growing distrust of expert judgement and reasoned debate
-Misology: the hatred of reason and argument

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Community Voices

"Science writer David Robson has encouraging news for those who struggle to create meaningful bonds with others"

The Wall Street Journal

"David Robson offers a hopeful and entertaining take on why so many of us feel like islands in a sea of people"

Hal Hershfield

"David Robson uses science and stories to show the extent to which we are shaped by our beliefs"

Dr. Monty Lyman

"David Robson is one of my favorite science writers"

Vanessa Bohns

"And David Robson manages to take this research and organize it into a compelling playbook for a better life"

Gayle Allen

"David Robson makes a very persuasive case that what we expect has a significant material impact on our lives"

James Wallman

"As David Robson makes plain in this compelling book, the way we think about the world can profoundly shape how we navigate it"

Daniel Pink

"We’re six days into 2022 and The Expectation Effect by David Robson is already threatening to be book of the year"

Will Storr

"David Robson seamlessly and engagingly explores how what we expect to happen has a much larger role than we might have previously believed"

Melissa Hogenboom

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