Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me)

Entertaining, illuminating andwhen you recognize yourself in the stories it tellsmortifying. Wall Street Journal Every page sparkles with sharp insight and keen observation. Mistakes were madebut not in this book! Daniel Gilbert, author ofStumbling on Happiness Why is it so hard to say I made a mistakeand really believe it? When we make mistakes, cling to outdated attitudes, or mistreat other people, we must calm the cognitive dissonance that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so, unconsciously, we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral, and righta belief that often keeps us on a course that is dumb, immoral, and wrong. Backed by years of research,Mistakes Were Made (But Not byMe)offers a fascinating explanation of self-justificationhow it works, the damage it can cause, and how we can overcome it. This updated edition features new examples and concludes with an extended discussion of how we can live with dissonance, learn from it, and perhaps, eventually, forgive ourselves. A revelatory study of how lovers, lawyers, doctors, politiciansand all of uspull the wool over our own eyes . . . Reading it, we recognize the behavior of our leaders, our loved ones, andif were honestourselves, and some of the more perplexing mysteries of human nature begin to seem a little clearer. Francine Prose,O, The Oprah Magazine

Additional ISBNs: 9780544574786, 0544574788, 9780547416038, 0547416032