Below are links to books / videos that I referenced in the interview on the Pandemic Podcast that aired on the 10th February.
Behaviour – Robert Sapolsky
This work provides wonderful insights into behaviour. The video really allows us to understand how divide and conquer works at a biological level.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31170723-behave
The Secrets of Magic – Michael L Hall
I have been studying this book for 15 years. It contains key information to understand how people make sense of the world and how to find questions that can challenge this sense making. It is worth persevering as the book needs reading many times before it becomes clear.
This book also references numerous key points from Science and Sanity by Alfred Korzybski. Science and Sanity is 900 pages, I am grateful to Michael for excellent work in studying this seminal work.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2802804-the-secrets-of-magic
Bootcamp for the Brain – Derren Brown
This brilliant and entertaining (as usual from Derren), many insights into errors that our brains can make. Derren shows clearly, through stories and interviews on how to improve our thinking to protect ourselves from unwanted results.
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57198582-derren-brown-s-boot-camp-for-the-brain
Nudge – Richard Thaler and others
This book will explain how behavioural scientists can predict and influence behaviour.
This information if shared with the public, could help people make better decisions. The concern is that it is being used to manipulate the public without their consent or knowledge. In my view Thaler may have a naïve assumption or two about how the information will be used. Additionally some assumptions around gov policies and narratives may need reassessing. A must read to protect ourselves from influence.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3450744-nudge?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=rtGbb4MJUa&rank=1
Influence, Science and Practice – Robert Cialdini
This is reportedly the book that inspired the BIT (Behaivoural Insights Team). It is important to understand this work for insights into human behaviour and ways to best protest ourselves from unwanted influence.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28815.Influence?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=wDgPKrWOHO&rank=1
The Brain that Changes Itself – Norman Doige
Some amazing research studies in this book. Page 78-85 key for understanding needs vs wants.
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/570172.The_Brain_that_Changes_Itself