Category Archives: Psychology

Which Books to Read, Dumb Politicians, Politics as a Joke

Posted on 26 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

How do I choose which books to buy, or read? A case example. Also: about dumb politicians, and about politics as a joke. A few times here I’ve discussed my methods and thought processes to identify which books to read, … Continue reading →

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Recent Headlines, 7 Sept 2022

Posted on 7 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Busy with things including the heat. For now headlines from the past few days, lightly commented. I’ve skimmed them at best; some I will revisit and comment further. About not following your gut; the past 150 years of human history; … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Human Progress, Links & Comments, Narrative, Psychology, Social Progress | Comments Off on Recent Headlines, 7 Sept 2022

George Gamow: One Two Three… Infinity

Posted on 10 August 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s an oldie, not just for first being published in 1947 (see Wikipedia) but also for being one of the first science nonfiction books I ever read, back when I bought this copy in 1969. (Seen here is the Bantam … Continue reading →

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David McRaney, HOW MINDS CHANGE

Posted on 4 August 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion (Portfolio/Penguin, June 2022, 330pp) Almost a decade ago I discovered two books by David McRaney, YOU ARE NOT SO SMART (2011) and YOU ARE NOW LESS DUMB (2013) that … Continue reading →

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Bothsidesism and Media Bias

Posted on 2 August 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s an odd headline. What could this be about? Slate, Savannah Jacobson, 1 Aug 2022: Why the New York Times’ Post-Roe Abortion Coverage Has Felt a Little Off, subtitled, “It’s the same problem that always plagues the Times.”

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What People Know, Think They Know, or Believe, vs. How They Act

Posted on 26 July 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

In particular, about a GOP congressman’s hypocrisy concerning his son’s gay marriage, how the Republican witnesses at the Jan. 6th hearing abandoned their jobs only at the last possible minute, and how people in red states have a distorted view … Continue reading →

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Home

Posted on 15 June 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, They have to take you in. Robert Frost

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LQCs: Law & Order, Prayer

Posted on 9 June 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Who exactly is for law and order? And who thinks prayer really works, and why?

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LQCs: Preferring Simple Answers to Complex Problems

Posted on 8 June 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

First for today, a blast from the past. From 2009. This is a song from Les Miz, which we watched on PBS last week. Susan Boyle. Watch the clip above from the beginning, until at least about 1:15 when she … Continue reading →

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LQCs: Mass Shootings and Logical Fallacies

Posted on 4 June 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

More causes of mass shootings revealed, in just the past couple days!

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