Book Reading #50: Why We Make Mistakes

Reference Information:

Title: Why We Make Mistakes

Author: Joseph T. Hallinan

Editors: Broadway Books (2009)

Chapter 12:

Summary: Hallinan brings up constraints and affordances in his twelfth chapter, discussing how they aid us in our everyday lives. He discusses how affordances can give people insight into how something can be used, as long as the person knows where to look.

Discussion: This chapter echoed of Norman's novels, but with it's own unique twist on it. His examples put Norman's discussions in a new light however, allowing further insight.

Chapter 13:

Summary: Hallinan discusses people's thought processes behind important life decisions, and how they tend to focus on minor factors while doing so. He continues this theme of misdirection throughout the chapter. 

Discussion: I've heard the "clinging to minor facts during decision making" logic before, but it was nice to see Hallinan's take on it. I find it interesting that even after you know these sorts of fallacies, we tend to continue making them anyways.

Conclusion:

Summary: Hallinan concludes his book very well, giving the reader a list of advice that they can use in their life in order to take the book to heart. Like most advice lists, it includes some obvious things such as getting plenty of sleep, but it also suggest things such as keeping a written record in order to not fall victim to the rose colored glasses.

Discussion: I enjoyed Hallinan's conclusion. It wrapped everything up nicely, while giving the reader a large amount of useful advice. It was really good to see him recognize that while he had presented a large amount of useful information to us in his novel, that we might need a bit more direct direction in order to apply the information to our lives.