Recommendations based on Quirkology: How We Discover the Big Truths in Small Thingsby Richard Wiseman

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot

    by Richard Wiseman
    Evidence-based self-help book that provides practical tips to improve various aspects of life in under a minute.

    In "59 Seconds," psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman presents a fresh approach to change that helps people achieve their aims and ambitions in minutes, not months. From mood to memory, persuasion ... (Goodreads)

  2. Bad Science

    by Ben Goldacre
    A critical look at the misuse of scientific fact and the implications of bad science.

    Full of spleen, this is a hilarious, invigorating and informative journey through the world of Bad Science . When Dr Ben Goldacre saw someone on daytime TV dipping her feet in an 'Aqua Detox' ... (Goodreads)

  3. A Short History of Nearly Everything

    by Bill Bryson
    A captivating overview of the natural sciences, spanning the history of the universe.

    In Bryson's biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand—and, if possible, answer—the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory ... (Goodreads)

  4. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

    by Dan Ariely
    An exploration of why humans make irrational decisions, and how to overcome them.

    Why do our headaches persist after taking a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a 50-cent aspirin? Why does recalling the Ten Commandments reduce our tendency to lie, even when we couldn't ... (Goodreads)

  5. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales

    by Oliver Sacks
    A collection of case studies, illustrating extraordinary neurological phenomena.

    If a man has lost a leg or an eye, he knows he has lost a leg or an eye; but if he has lost a self—himself—he cannot know it, because he is no longer there to know it. Dr. Oliver Sacks recounts the ... (Goodreads)

  6. Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior

    by Ori Brafman
    A fascinating exploration of the irrational forces that shape our decisions and behavior, and how we can learn to recognize and resist them.

    A fascinating journey into the hidden psychological influences that derail our decision-making,, Sway, will change the way you think about the way you think., Why is it so difficult to sell a ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail—But Some Don't

    by Nate Silver
    An exploration of the art and science of prediction, examining why some predictions succeed while others fail.

    Nate Silver built an innovative system for predicting baseball performance, predicted the 2008 election within a hair's breadth. He solidified his standing as the nation's foremost political ... (Goodreads)

  8. Thinking, Fast and Slow

    by Daniel Kahneman
    An exploration of the two systems of the mind, and how they influence decision-making.

    In the highly anticipated Thinking, Fast and Slow , Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and ... (Goodreads)

  9. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

    by Sheryl Sandberg
    An exploration of gender dynamics in the workplace and solutions for women to achieve success.

    Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In is a massive cultural phenomenon and its title has become an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of bestseller lists internationally, ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness

    by Steve Peters
    A guide to understanding and managing the inner workings of the human mind, using the analogy of a chimp to explain our emotional responses.

    Leading consultant psychiatrist Steve Peters knows more than anyone how impulsive behaviour or nagging self-doubt can impact negatively on our professional and personal lives. In this, his first ... (Goodreads)

  11. Seriously... I'm Kidding

    by Ellen DeGeneres
    A collection of humorous essays and anecdotes from the beloved comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

    "Sometimes the greatest things are the most embarrassing." Ellen Degeneres' winning, upbeat candor has made her show one of the most popular, resilient and honored daytime shows on the air. (To date, ... (Goodreads)

  12. Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from the Data

    by Charles Wheelan
    Practical guide to understanding statistics, illuminating how vital it is to everyday life.

    Once considered tedious, the field of statistics is rapidly evolving into a discipline Hal Varian, chief economist at Google, has actually called “sexy.” From batting averages and political polls to ... (Goodreads)

  13. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

    by Christopher Hitchens
    Criticism of organized religion, arguing it is the root of much suffering in the world.

    With his unique brand of erudition and wit, Hitchens describes the ways in which religion is man-made. "God did not make us," he says. "We made God." He explains the ways in which religion is ... (Goodreads)

  14. The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World

    by A.J. Jacobs
    An exploration of knowledge and the pursuit of wisdom, through an attempt to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica.

    Part memoir and part education (or lack thereof), The Know-It-All chronicles NPR contributor A.J. Jacobs's hilarious, enlightening, and seemingly impossible quest to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica ... (Goodreads)

  15. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

    by John Medina
    A comprehensive look at the science of brain development, exploring how to maximize its potential.

    Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know—like the need for physical activity ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home

    by Dan Ariely
    Examines how irrational behavior affects our decisions and yields surprising outcomes.

    Lẽ phải của phi lý trí không phải là một cuốn sách hàn lâm khô khan chỉ toàn lý thuyết, mà nó được sử dụng dữ liệu từ những thí nghiệm thú vị và độc đáo dẫn đến những kết luận hấp dẫn về cách thức – ... (Goodreads)

  17. Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory

    by Ben Macintyre
    True story of a WWII deception operation involving a dead body, fake documents, and a daring plan to mislead the Nazis.

    “Pure catnip to fans of World War II thrillers and a lot of fun for everyone else.”—Joseph Kanon,, Washington Post Book World, “Thrilling . . . What makes, Operation Mincemeat, so winning, in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature

    by Matt Ridley
    Examines how evolutionary biology shapes human behavior and sexuality.

    Referring to Lewis Carroll's Red Queen from Through the Looking-Glass , a character who has to keep running to stay in the same place, Matt Ridley demonstrates why sex is humanity's best strategy for ... (Goodreads)

  19. How the Mind Works

    by Steven Pinker
    Exploration of the human mind, understanding the elements that make us think and act.

    In this extraordinary bestseller, Steven Pinker, one of the world's leading cognitive scientists, does for the rest of the mind what he did for language in his 1994 book, The Language Instinct . He ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

    by Barry Schwartz
    An exploration of how the abundance of choice in modern life can lead to unhappiness and paralysis.

    In the spirit of Alvin Tofflers' Future Shock , a social critique of our obsession with choice, and how it contributes to anxiety, dissatisfaction and regret. Whether we're buying a pair of jeans, ... (Goodreads)

  21. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

    by Christopher McDougall
    A thrilling exploration of the Tarahumara tribe and their superhuman running abilities.

    Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way

    by Bill Bryson
    Fascinating exploration of the history and evolution of English language.

    With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson—the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent —brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English ... (Goodreads)

  23. The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography

    by Simon Singh
    A comprehensive history of cryptography and its role in shaping our world.

    In his first book since the bestselling Fermat’s Enigma , Simon Singh offers the first sweeping history of encryption, tracing its evolution and revealing the dramatic effects codes have had on wars, ... (Goodreads)

  24. Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

    by Martin E.P. Seligman
    A guide to developing an optimistic outlook and mental strength to overcome life's challenges.

    Known as the father of the new science of positive psychology, Martin E.P. Seligman draws on more than twenty years of clinical research to demonstrate how optimism enchances the quality of life, and ... (Goodreads)

  25. Think Like a Freak

    by Steven D. Levitt
    How to approach life's problems with a fresh perspective and solve them with unconventional solutions.

    The New York Times bestselling Freakonomics changed the way we see the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything. Then came SuperFreakonomics, a documentary film, an award-winning ... (Goodreads)

  26. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

    by Mary Roach
    A humorous exploration of the science and research behind sex and human sexuality.

    In Bonk, the best-selling author of Stiff turns her outrageous curiosity and insight on the most alluring scientific subject of all: sex. Can a person think herself to orgasm? Why doesn't Viagra help ... (Goodreads)

  27. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness

    by Richard H. Thaler
    A groundbreaking exploration of how subtle influences can shape decisions and improve people's lives.

    From the winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics, Richard H. Thaler, and Cass R. Sunstein: a revelatory look at how we make decisions,New York Times bestseller,Named a Best Book of the Year by, ... (Goodreads)

  28. Fermat's Enigma

    by Simon Singh
    Uncovering the centuries-old mathematical mystery of Pierre de Fermat's Last Theorem.

    xn + yn = zn, where n represents 3, 4, 5, ...no solution "I have discovered a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain." With these words, the ... (Goodreads)

  29. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

    by Daniel Goleman
    Examines the importance of emotional intelligence and how it affects success.

    #1 BESTSELLER • The groundbreaking book that redefines what it means to be smart, with a new introduction by the author “A thoughtfully written, persuasive account explaining emotional intelligence ... (Barnes & Noble)

  30. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea

    by Barbara Demick
    Exploration of the lives of North Koreans during the famine and repression of the 1990s.

    Nothing to Envy follows the lives of six North Koreans over fifteen years—a chaotic period that saw the death of Kim Il-sung, the unchallenged rise to power of his son Kim Jong-il, and the ... (Goodreads)