I feel like we are living in a state of perpetual noise. This book felt like a balm. I liked how Montell weaves in stories from her own life with a reflection on our culture and society as a whole. I especially loved a line about how we are living with more access to information than ever before but the world makes so much less sense.

Thank you for the opportunity to review The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell. This isn't my first Montell book and I did enjoy the others so was excited to receive the ARC for this one. AM is clearly a skilled writer and paints interesting and compelling scenes in each of her works, including this one. I think I am the wrong audience for this newest work - this reads as if she's just discovered some of the concepts she outlines and is exploring from a younger/more beginner-based lens. I gamely worked through the chapters, only to find this continued throughout.
My sense is that others will likely enjoy this book and many will learn a lot they can then grow in other ways. Just wasn't for me. 4 stars for writing quality and intention. The -1 is for it just not being for me.

I don't have many NF writers I gravitate towards as MUST READS. But Amanda Montell is a must-read author for me. Her work is just so interesting and she's able to write about so many different things--language, psychology, sociology...and I love it all!
I really enjoyed this book--my only sort of "qualm" with this book is that I feel like the thesis isn't as strong as the others. Sometimes I wondered how the topic of the chapter tied in with overthinking, but that didn't detract from my reading much. In general, if you've enjoyed Wordslut and Cult-ish, this one is also a quick and interesting read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

This was just as well-written & interesting as Montell’s previous book, “Cultish”. Each chapter is an essay on a different cognitive bias sprinkled with Montell’s signature humor and wit. I loved the personal narratives throughout and how she managed to pair them with her research & interviews. It was interesting to see all the ways in which she linked the biases to current issues/things we see in our society today. Lots of great information broken down into a way that is enjoyable and easy to understand!

I recently had the privilege of reading an advance copy of Amanda Montell's upcoming book, "The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality," and I'm thrilled to share my thoughts on this brilliant and thought-provoking work. In her latest masterpiece, Montell has truly hit the trifecta, following the success of her previous books, "Wordslut" and "Cultish." This new addition to her repertoire is nothing short of exceptional, blending cultural criticism with personal narrative in a way that captivates and challenges. "Magical thinking" is dissected with razor-sharp precision throughout the book, defined as the belief that internal thoughts can influence external events. Montell takes us on a journey through a myriad of cognitive biases that permeate our minds, from the captivating allure of the "Halo effect" to the entrapment of the "Sunk Cost Fallacy."

What sets Montell apart is her ability to tackle these complex concepts with a delightful blend of wit and brilliance. Each chapter is a deep dive into the irrationalities that run rampant in our brains, offering both insight and humor in equal measure. The result is a captivating read that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

In a world where information overload has become the norm, Montell's message of hope, empathy, and forgiveness shines through. She navigates the challenges of the modern information age, dissecting how our coping mechanisms have been overloaded and our irrationality turned up to an eleven. Yet, amidst the chaos, Montell manages to infuse a sense of optimism.

Having read an ARC, I am eagerly anticipating the publication date so that I can purchase a copy and mark it up with notes and highlights. Montell's ability to make sense of the senseless is a testament to her skill as an author and a beacon for those who may have lost faith in our ability to reason.

I do wish there had been more of a wrap-up at the end, but otherwise, this book was perfection - a refreshing perspective on our anxiety-addled human selves.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the bestselling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult , a delicious blend of cultural criticism and personal narrative that explores our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and highlights of magical thinking.

Well I love everything that Amanda Montell has written and this is no exception. In The Age of Magical Overthinking, Montell breaks down the various cognitive biases that impact us in our post-COVID, hyper-online world. Montell doesn’t speak about these things from a holier-than-thou, self-help and betterment perspective. She’s candid and genuine in these essays, speaking lots from her own experience, which makes the reader want to continue reading and learning and reflecting.

A book that can make me laugh, think, and feel smarter and more self-reflective is always a book I will enjoy.

I think Amanda Montell is such a great writer. She does a fantastic job of being funny and witty, while also delivering information that should at times be complicated. And yet the book reads so easily, much like her last two books, that before you know it you are done. I thought the topics covered in this book were interesting, but I do wish there was a slightly stronger throughline. While I can see how all the chapters are thematically similar, it did feel a bit like each were independent interests strong armed together. Maybe a conclusion would have made it feel more fluid? This however didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book, just made it feel almost like a collection of essays on the same subject but not quite interrelated. I am excited to see what Montell dives into next for research for her inevitable fourth book, as she touches on so many interesting topics here I'd love to see some fleshed out into a longer piece.

Unfortunately my arc expired but I'm sure it's good bc Montell is a talented writer and speaker. It sounds excellent!

Firstly, I want to express my gratitude for receiving this ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher, it’s so fun to be able to do this!

The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell is a collection of essays on cognitive biases, exploring how the way our brains operate doesn't always align with the demands of the modern world. Montell, the bestselling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult, has a conversational writing style that makes her books enjoyable to read. It's not akin to an academic paper; instead, it feels like listening to your best friend tell you about the internet rabbit hole she fell down.

The book walks a fine line between personal narrative and a nonfiction social science book, which took a bit of getting used to. Montell, an excellent storyteller, shines in the sections where she provides examples of cognitive biases in her own life. Particularly compelling is her description of a toxic relationship in the chapter on the "Sunk Cost Fallacy" – it truly resonated with me. This isn't to say I didn't appreciate the more academic parts; I enjoyed the research-oriented sections as well. Addressing how research shows these fallacies helped our ancestors, Montell seamlessly integrates this insight with anecdotes.

I highly recommend this to anyone wanting a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. It's optimistic, bright, and just what I needed to start 2024.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria For the ARC!

Amanda Montell’s "The Age of Magical Overthinking" is a book about cognitive biases. Unfortunately, it seems more interested in reinforcing Montell’s own than in engaging in any substantive analysis.

With "Cultish," I questioned whether Montell was up to the task of academic rigor, and I don’t feel that way this time around. I simply question whether she is actually interested in it. Within “Magical Overthinking," she looks outward only as a voyeur—never as a scholar, and this tendency both undermines the book and suggests a more interesting one lies beneath its surface.

Montell opens with a chapter on parasocial relationships. It’s a strange choice because the remainder of the book feels preoccupied with her own brand management as the patron saint of the terminally online. Each chapter is framed through a personal anecdote in which the author almost but not quite succumbs to a cognitive bias, and through the power of “research,” she pulls herself out of it. These anecdotes are interesting, but they preclude any real engagement with the discourse she co-opts.

For example, in a late chapter, Montell addresses her fear that she is overconfident—that she is waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I think it’s telling of the book’s overall issues. This is a book that seems motivated by insecurity, too rooted in the immediacy of Montell’s own experience. She gestures towards analysis but never follows through because her sources are only useful insomuch as they support her own biases and act as a who’s who of her social circle (i.e. “When I met Emily. St. John Mandel, she divulged. . .”, as if readers are meant to be impressed more than informed).

A generous read is that Amanda Montell is rejecting historical standards of social science to advance more modern discourses, such as pulling from Instagram and TikTok, but even if that is her intention, I think it falls short. Rather than entering into conversation with these ideas, Montell never really invites readers to learn more. Each chapter almost demands a full book, but Montell seems interested only in flyover generalizations that end discussions instead of beginning them. Every so often, there is passing mention of a fascinating idea, like the suggestion that we are more interested in death than recovery, but this is quickly dismissed without any reflection. Why? I would love to read more about that, and I don’t doubt that Montell is capable of writing about it.

My biggest disappointment with "Magical Overthinking" is that it is a bad book from a great writer—it just isn’t the right genre.

I think chapter 3, a reflection on a toxic relationship, is really strong, and it shows where Montell excels–as a storyteller. This book—like "Cultish"—is ultimately self-interested, and I wish it were just more honest about that. Across both these books, there’s a latent memoir that seems embarrassed of its own existence. Montell’s voice is sharper in "Magical Overthinking" than in its predecessor, but she still writes like she has something to prove, and I wish she didn’t. I think her life is sufficiently interesting. I think her opinions are worth sharing and communicated articulately. I think her prose is often excellent.

I just don’t know why this book seems ashamed of its strengths, and I hope Amanda Montell’s next book fully embraces them.

I've enjoyed reading all of Amanda's books, and this might be my favorite yet! Especially as a culture writer encountering so many cognitive biases online, her ability to break these concepts down via distinct pop cultural moments really helped me lock into what this book was exploring.

In, The Age of Magical Overthinking, Amanda Montell breaks apart our various forms of “magical” thinking. From the sunk cost fallacy (the idea that putting work into something means we shouldn’t abandon it) to declinism (the idea that everything in the past was better and everything to come will be worse) Montell explains how our brains trick us into believing narratives that make the modern world manageable, while also diving into how these fallacies helped our ancestors.

Montell uses a relatable voice and witty, current allusions to pop culture and world events which make the book timely and entertaining, though I fear they won’t age well. (That’s another way of saying, don’t wait, read it now!)

While this one didn’t quite live up to her previous book, Cultish, for me, that may be because Cultish catered to two of my very specific interests: linguistics and cults. If you’re interested in psychology and sociology however, this one may be your first 5-star nonfiction read this year!

Do read The Age of Magical Overthinking if:
•you said you were going to read more nonfiction this year but don’t usually like nonfiction
•you like a witty author
•you enjoy a little self-deprecation with your personal growth

Do NOT read The Age of Magical Overthinking if:
•you’re easily offended
•you don’t like to be told you’re wrong
•you believe in astrology (sorry, but Montell will come for you).

An excellent and entertaining newest addition for Amanda Montell. I’m excited to continue reading her work in the future!

a huge thank you to netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. and honestly, for me, it's a solid 5 star gem. montell creates a perfect mix of her own stories and well researched reason tied together. it’s like she's your witty friend who's done her homework.

her writing is so conversational and entertaining, calling out the absurdity of our current time with research to back it all up. in an era where we're all glued to our screens, she breaks down our everyday cognitive quirks. this book taught me so much more about things i’d heard of before and also hit the nail on the head about experiences i’ve had but couldn't ever quite put my finger on.

after this read, i’m stepping outside to touch some grass, armed with a newfound understanding of the magical overthinking swirling around us. highly recommend picking this up if you find yourself trapped in a constant state of ‘….why are we LIKE THIS?????’ after spending time scrolling on tik tok.

This book had a nice collections of essays on overthinking in regards to cognitive functions in the brain. This fell just a little flat for me, because the essays felt a bit too personal in my opinion. I genuinely enjoyed the concept and as always look forward to anything new from Montell.

I really enjoyed this book! I love the author’s personal life anecdotes layered in with interesting research. The reading style felt like listening to a friend speak passionately about a random topic they did a deep dive on.

Fun collection of essays about cognitive bias. I felt like some were stronger than others but that usually is the case in books like this. She does a good job of linking her personal experiences with those of the greater world and population which makes the book very readable. I do feel like sometimes she goes a little too far into her opinion and cherrypicks facts to support it but that is pretty common. It's always good to be a critical reader!

Another fantastic Amanda Montell read. I think this day of not only misinformation, but also "magical thinking" it's important to be aware of cognitive biases and pitfalls. These points were well-drawn with topical internet and pop culture references.

As an avid listener of “Sounds Like a Cult,” I was excited to hear about Amanda’s forthcoming book. Sometimes I find myself falling asleep while reading books like this. I was pleasantly surprised to find I was very interested in each chapter’s focus and highlighted several areas of the book.

If you are interested in bias and the use of language in how we communicate bias, this book is for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I was so excited to receive access to this new book from Amanda Montell. I’ve loved her other books Cultish and Wordslut and love the way she smoothly combines meticulous research and personable writing, helping me learn something new about the world and myself in a fun package. This latest work is no different, and I particularly enjoyed that it was an even more personal topic and treatment.

Thank you to publisher and netgalley for an arc. I enjoyed learning about the different biases within cognitive psychology and will recommend to all those who are interested to pick this one up. I love how Mindel uses everyday examples to explain how the different biases pops into our lives. I was able to learn more about myself and those around us.

Rate: 4/5 ⭐️