Uncertain
How to Turn Your Biggest Fear into Your Greatest Power
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
978-0-241-46771-8 (ISBN)
Description
How much do we reply upon certainty? And, how does the way we deal with uncertainty impact our future and our lives?
Uncertainty is one of the defining issues of our time. The stability we once had is disappearing, and fast. Vast changes in society are shifting our realities- extraordinary numbers of immigrants and refugees are upsetting the demographic, and the cultural and religious foundations of nations. Changing attitudes and approaches to employment, with an increase in freelance and temporary work undermines people's ability to plan for the future. And, there is an ever decreasing sense of trust in what once hallowed- the government, the media, in education, religion, in medicine. Instead, the internet provides us with a wave of conflicting advice.
When we can no longer make sense of the world together, insecurity takes over. We develop anxiety and confusion about our purpose, and in searching for certainty find it in autocratic leaders and populism. Democracy begins to fade as our uncertainty grows.
If we are aware of our need for certainty, and understand why we behave instinctively in the way that we do, we can better understand how stress and pressure affects our decisions. We can shed light not only on historical trends but understand how we change those trends for the future.
Uncertainty is one of the defining issues of our time. The stability we once had is disappearing, and fast. Vast changes in society are shifting our realities- extraordinary numbers of immigrants and refugees are upsetting the demographic, and the cultural and religious foundations of nations. Changing attitudes and approaches to employment, with an increase in freelance and temporary work undermines people's ability to plan for the future. And, there is an ever decreasing sense of trust in what once hallowed- the government, the media, in education, religion, in medicine. Instead, the internet provides us with a wave of conflicting advice.
When we can no longer make sense of the world together, insecurity takes over. We develop anxiety and confusion about our purpose, and in searching for certainty find it in autocratic leaders and populism. Democracy begins to fade as our uncertainty grows.
If we are aware of our need for certainty, and understand why we behave instinctively in the way that we do, we can better understand how stress and pressure affects our decisions. We can shed light not only on historical trends but understand how we change those trends for the future.
Reviews / Votes
We now live in a whitewater world of unpredictability. Change occurs at a rate that the human mind is not prepared for. Arie Kruglanski's groundbreaking book is the place to go to discover how to embrace uncertainty and turn the stress of whitewater to your growth and benefit * Martin Seligman, author of The Hope Circuit * One of my very favorite psychologists in the world tackles a subject that is both timeless and timely. Drawing on four decades of research and reflection, Arie Kruglanski shows us that though uncertainty is inevitable, how we react to it is not * Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit * This is the book we've been waiting for. With his tremendous spirit, wit, knowledge, and wisdom, Kruglanski give us a book that helps us understand and navigate the uncertain world we live in. It's both based on science and filled with humanity-with deep compassion and benevolent guidance. It is a book for our time * Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success * If you're not sure if you need this book, then you do. Original, insightful, and thought-provoking, the world's expert on the psychology of uncertainty reveals what science can tell us about our lives on the razor's edge * Daniel Gilbert, author of the New York Times bestseller Stumbling on Happiness * I enthusiastically recommend "Uncertain." Arie Kruglanski is one the most prolific writers in modern psychological science. Here, he explores the relationship that we, as humans, have with uncertainty. He presents his fascinating research program on need for closure. His writing is deep, full of humor, and so many great stories of people who sought too much (or at times, too little) certainty. The book further provides a guide for developing self-insights into your own need for closure, so that you make better decisions in life. If there's anything I'm certain about, is that you'll love it * Ayelet Fishbach, author of Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
500 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-46771-8 (9780241467718)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Arie W. Kruglanski is an award-winning Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park recognised as a worldwide leading expert and authority on human motivation.
Famed for his interest and studies in domains of human judgement and decision-making, the motivation-cognition interface, group and intergroup processes, and the psychology of human goals, his work has been published in over 400 articles, chapters and books and his papers have appeared in major psychological journals. He has published opinion pieces in the Guardian, Huffington Post, National Interest, Conversation and The Washington Post. His background has enabled him to be a founding co-PI of START (National Center for the Study of Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism). He is currently a PI on the psychological study of Syrian refugees in Europe and the Middle East.
Famed for his interest and studies in domains of human judgement and decision-making, the motivation-cognition interface, group and intergroup processes, and the psychology of human goals, his work has been published in over 400 articles, chapters and books and his papers have appeared in major psychological journals. He has published opinion pieces in the Guardian, Huffington Post, National Interest, Conversation and The Washington Post. His background has enabled him to be a founding co-PI of START (National Center for the Study of Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism). He is currently a PI on the psychological study of Syrian refugees in Europe and the Middle East.