Book Summary: The Suggestible Brain – The Intersection of Science and Magic

Book Summary: The Suggestible Brain – The Intersection of Science and Magic by Amir Raz explores the remarkable power of suggestion and its profound influence on our perceptions, behaviors, and even our physical reality. Through captivating anecdotes, including the art of mentalism and magic, Raz illustrates how suggestion can shape our thoughts, emotions, and actions in ways we often fail to recognize.

The book delves into how suggestibility operates in everyday life, from the placebo effect that alters physical symptoms to the way expectations can influence our decisions, health, and memories. Raz uncovers how powerful positive and negative suggestions can shape our experiences, whether in therapeutic contexts, social settings, or through external influences like media and advertising.

By examining the science behind these effects, Raz reveals how our minds can be both malleable and vulnerable to suggestion.

He explores how understanding this process can empower us to harness its potential for personal growth, healing, and well-being, while also offering insights on how to guard against the negative uses of suggestion.

Ultimately, The Suggestible Brain highlights the delicate interplay between reality and perception, and how suggestion plays a pivotal role in the construction of our truths. Through this exploration, Raz encourages readers to become more aware of the powerful forces that shape their thoughts and actions, offering a deeper understanding of the mind’s suggestible nature.

Book Summary Contents

1 What Are The Questions That The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Answers?
2 The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Details & Statistics
- 2.1 Statistics of The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz
3 The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Quotes
4 The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Table Of Contents
5 The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Book Summary
6 About the Author: Amir Raz
7 Attachments & References
- 7.1 Share:

What Are The Questions That The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Answers?

What is the nature of suggestion, and how does it influence human behavior and cognition?
To what extent are humans susceptible to suggestion, and what factors contribute to this variability?
How has suggestibility contributed to human evolution, and what advantages did it provide for survival?
In what ways can suggestion impact our physical body, including our health and well-being?
Can suggestion be effectively used as a tool for healing, and what is its potential in clinical settings?
What are the boundaries of suggestion, and when does it lose its effectiveness?
How reliable are our memories, and how does suggestion affect the accuracy of recollection?
Is the efficacy of antidepressants influenced by suggestion, and how do placebo effects factor into their perceived success?
How do psychedelics enhance suggestibility, and what are the implications of this heightened state for therapy and personal growth?
How can we consciously use suggestions to enhance our well-being, and what role does self-awareness play in this process?

The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Details & Statistics

Attribute	Details
Publisher	Hachette Go (October 1, 2024)
Language	English
Paperback	272 pages
ISBN-10	0306833433
ISBN-13	978-0306833434

Statistics of The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz

Rankings:

Overall in Books: #95,489
#204 in Cognitive Psychology (Books)
#219 in Popular Social Psychology & Interactions
#1,498 in Motivational Self-Help (Books)

Customer Reviews:

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Total Ratings: 5

Genres:

Psychology
Nonfiction
Science
Health

Editions Available:

3 Editions

The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Quotes

With these serious ethical considerations, it’s clear why deceptive provocation tests have mainly been abandoned in some settings (yet still thrive in others). But is there a formulation that mixes magic-like elements and science into a judicious and ethical elixir that could benefit patients? Can we use theatrics to influence expectations and enhance healing?
Suggestion joins faith, belief, and purpose—mighty forces that are hard to measure with bottom-up science. “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted
We can glean meaningful insights from inspiring human stories, such as how an athlete in her nineties can teach us about living longer and the role of the mind therein, for example. But to seed a global transformation, we need to examine a wide array of converging evidence, well-designed experiments, underlying mechanisms, and scientific data
Many of the top-down examples peppered throughout this book are noteworthy because they rely on the importance of how our minds construe a situation.
Hope is the magical ingredient that our suggestible brain so desperately desires. Suggestion is a potent conduit to fuel and realize this kind of magic.
Many people prefer to ignore suggestions and favor their perspectives. Perhaps this is a result of our obsession with winning arguments over thinking straight.

The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Table Of Contents

Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
A Journey from Magician to Scientist
Chapter 1 The Magic of Suggestion
Chapter 2 The Evolution of How and Why Humans Are Suggestible
Chapter 3 Do Honest Scientists Ever Deceive in Research?
Chapter 4 Suggestion Changes Your Physiology
Chapter 5 Can Clinical Suggestions Heal and Cure?
Chapter 6 The Reliable Science of Unreliable, Suggestible Memories
Chapter 7 Do Antidepressants “Work” Through Suggestion?
Chapter 8 A Nexus of Psychedelics, Suggestion, Society, and Culture
Conclusion
Parting Suggestions
Acknowledgments
Discover More
References

The Suggestible Brain The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds by Amir Raz Book Summary

Chapter 1: The Magic of Suggestion

In this chapter, Amir Raz reflects on his early fascination with magic and how it led to a scientific study of suggestion, particularly hypnosis and suggestibility. It explains that suggestibility is not about weakness or gullibility but about the ability to respond to suggestions.

The chapter emphasizes that everyone is suggestible to varying degrees, influenced by factors like age and context. The author concludes by underscoring the importance of understanding suggestibility as it plays a significant role in shaping our daily lives.

Chapter 2: The Evolution of How and Why Humans Are Suggestible

This chapter investigates the evolutionary origins of suggestibility, positing that it has been essential for human communication and learning, even before language. The author argues that suggestibility likely offered survival advantages, enabling learning, fostering trust in healers, and facilitating the transmission of cultural ideas.

The chapter also highlights the role of suggestibility in cultural and religious practices, particularly in healing rituals such as prayer.

Chapter 3: Do Honest Scientists Ever Deceive in Research?

In this chapter, Raz discusses the ethical dilemmas surrounding the use of deception in research, especially in studies involving suggestion. It examines the use of post-hypnotic suggestions in psychological experiments and their influence on automatic cognitive processes.

The chapter also acknowledges the contributions of magicians in advancing our understanding of suggestion, asserting that magic has proven to be an invaluable tool in uncovering the hidden workings of the human mind.

Chapter 4: Suggestion Changes Your Physiology

This chapter explores how suggestion can alter physiological responses, such as hormone levels and weight loss. Raz argues that expectations play a pivotal role in shaping these physical reactions. The chapter emphasizes the significant influence of mindset, context, and symbolism on the way we experience physiological changes, demonstrating that the mind-body connection is more powerful than often realized.

Chapter 5: Can Clinical Suggestions Heal and Cure?

Here, the focus shifts to the use of suggestion in clinical settings, addressing its potential to treat a variety of conditions. The chapter highlights the power of suggestion but also urges caution, warning against pseudoscientific claims. It emphasizes the role of expectations, motivation, and mental factors in determining the effectiveness of clinical suggestions, making a case for a more nuanced understanding of their use in medicine.

Chapter 6: The Reliable Science of Unreliable, Suggestible Memories

This chapter delves into the malleability of memory and how it can be influenced by suggestions, leading to false memories. Raz explores the sources of these false memories, such as hypnosis, psychotherapy, and exposure to misinformation. He stresses that everyone is susceptible to creating false memories, regardless of their memory abilities, and calls for caution when relying on personal recollections.

Chapter 7: Do Antidepressants “Work” Through Suggestion?

Raz questions the effectiveness of antidepressants and investigates the significant role suggestion and placebo effects play in their reported success. The chapter challenges the conventional understanding of antidepressants’ mechanisms, proposing that the psychological effects of suggestion may contribute substantially to their perceived benefits.

Chapter 8: A Nexus of Psychedelics, Suggestion, Society, and Culture

This chapter examines the connection between psychedelics and suggestibility, explaining how these substances can enhance suggestibility and open the mind to new experiences. Raz explores the importance of “set and setting” in shaping the effects of psychedelics, highlighting the therapeutic potential and the risks of harmful suggestions. The chapter also delves into the influence of suggestion on societal and cultural evolution, noting how culture evolves more rapidly than genetics. It concludes by emphasizing the interconnectedness of psychedelics, suggestion, and human society.

About the Author: Amir Raz

Book Summary: The Suggestible Brain – The Intersection of Science and Magic — Author’s image source: msch.us

Dr. Amir Raz is an internationally recognized authority on the science of suggestion. He currently holds the position of Canada Research Chair and is a Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Psychology at McGill University.

Additionally, he serves as the Founding Director of The Institute for Interdisciplinary Brain and Behavioral Sciences at Chapman University. Previously, Dr. Raz held positions at Columbia University and Cornell Medical Center. His groundbreaking work has garnered widespread media attention, including coverage in The New York Times, Scientific American Mind, and other prestigious outlets.

He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles published in renowned journals like Nature, PNAS, and Neuroimage. Throughout his career, he has received multiple accolades, including the Young Investigator Award and Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Raz has delivered a popular TEDx talk titled “When Can Deception Be Good for You?” and has been featured in documentaries with organizations such as the BBC, National Geographic, and CBC.

Attachments & References

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