This book explores the powerful influence of suggestion on our minds and behaviors, drawing on cognitive psychology, sociology, and the author’s experience as a magician and hypnotist. It examines how suggestion impacts perception, memory, and belief, influencing everything from placebo effects to political polarization and mental abuse. The book offers insights into how to harness and defend against the power of suggestion, empowering readers to navigate the increasingly manipulative information landscape.

The author uses a storytelling style that makes this book entertaining and easy to read. The book is fascinating and told from a unique perspective (a neuroscientist with a background as a magician) that offers unexpected insights. The book is a good companion to Yuval Noah Harari’s book NEXUS.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

In 'The Suggestible Brain', neuroscientist Amir Raz offers a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the ways in which suggestion can shape our behavior, perceptions, and even our memories. Drawing on decades of research and case studies, Raz takes readers on a journey through the science of suggestibility, showing how it can be used both for good and for ill.

Raz's writing is engaging and accessible, making complex concepts easy to understand. He also offers practical advice on how to protect ourselves from the potentially harmful effects of suggestion, as well as how to harness its power for our own benefit.

Overall, 'The Suggestible Brain' is an important and timely book that offers a fresh perspective on a topic that is more relevant than ever in our increasingly interconnected world. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the science of the mind and the ways in which we are influenced by the world around us.

A tremendously interesting, engaging, and important book. Amir Raz provides a thorough, multi-faceted look at human suggestibility and its societal ripples, from hypnosis, faith healing, and the placebo effect to social media, advertising, politics, psychedelics and more. And he's uniquely qualified to do so, being not only a neurologist but also a professional magician and hypnotist. Never in history have human beings been so bombarded with suggestion in all of its forms, and Raz has written an eye-opening, informative, downright entertaining book full of examples and personal anecdotes. Fantastic read.

Suggestibility can be defined as the tendency of an individual to accept or adopt the ideas or beliefs of others without critically examining or questioning their validity. Suggestibility is often presented negatively, implying others can unduly influence or deceive the individual. Amir Raz, the author of The Suggestible Brain, discusses suggestibility in depth, describing how extensive the trait appears in all humans, stating, "Everyone is suggestible."
Amir has unique qualifications for discussing suggestibility, having performed as a magician and a leading expert in the scientific study of suggestion. The book's subtitle is The Science and Magic of How We Make up our Minds. Amir invites the reader to be aware of suggestibility's profound influence on our daily lives. He engages the reader by telling many stories to illustrate his points. Amir describes at length both the advantages and disadvantages of suggestibility.
Amir proposes that suggestibility developed as an evolutionary advantage for humans. Suggestions permit us to learn quickly, bond with social groups, and explore other dimensions of human experience, including spirituality and belief.
The mind-body connection is an essential aspect of Amir's discussions. Studies have shown that the mind can affect distinct components of the body. The placebo effect causes actual changes in the body when patients expect to get better. The application of placebos can bring up ethical concerns if it involves deception of the patient. Amir's grasp of issues is amply shown in the case of antidepressants. Although antidepressants usually work no better than placebos, they continue to be used due to the reluctance of the medical community to consider psychological interventions.
The public may be more attuned to the negative aspects of suggestibility. A person should always be aware of the uses of suggestibility in law enforcement, politics, and the media. Amir points out that even a person's memory can be manipulated.
In summary, Amir proposes that suggestibility, including such forces as faith, belief, and purpose, combines with bottom-up sensory perceptions to complete the human experience.

A fascinating look at the power of suggestion and how it influences our outlooks and even our health and wellbeing.

This is full of impressive research and revelations. The author’s background as both a scientist and magician results in interesting storytelling and an air of curiosity and wonder throughout the chapters.

I learned a lot and enjoyed reading this and think some reformatting and reiteration of key points/takeaways at the end of each chapter would make it more accessible and enhance reader-friendliness.

Thank you very much to Hachette and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.