The Suggestible Brain

The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds

By: Amir Raz PhD PhD

Narrated by: Byron Wagner, Amir Raz PhD PhD

Neuroscientist Amir Raz shares decades of research and case studies to show how suggestion changes the brain and shapes our behavior—and how we can protect ourselves from and harness suggestibility in our own lives.

Suggestions can make cheap wine taste like Château Margaux, warp our perception of time, and alter our memories—and in an age where disinformation has impacted our personal lives and our politics, the power of suggestion is worth even more attention.

In The Suggestible Brain, world-renowned expert on the science of suggestion Amir Raz, PhD, brings together cognitive aspects of psychology, sociology, and anthropology with issues in our contemporary culture, media, alongside a series of case studies of patients with disorders ranging from Tourette’s Syndrome to false pregnancies, lactose intolerance, and asthma to show exactly how suggestions can cut deep into our brains, shake our fundamental knowledge, and override our core human values. Some questions include:

• Why do placebos work even when people know they are inactive pills—and why do red pills cause stress whereas blue pills feel calm?
• Can suggestions effectively treat depression and anxiety?
• How do people weaponize suggestion in the form of gaslighting and mental abuse?
• Why are we more likely to believe fake news that already aligns with our political beliefs?
• How can suggestions help fight racism, hatred, and bigotry? Conversely, how can suggestions backfire and create the opposite effect?

Merging Dr. Raz’s experiences as a magician and hypnotist with decades’ worth of his own neuropsychological research, The Suggestible Brain maps the twilight zone where magic and science coalesce, and shows how easily suggestible and manipulable we all are. Readers will walk away with actionable advice on how to harness the science of suggestion to propel change, protect against manipulative misinformation, and better regulate our internal, mental universe.

“Professor Amir Raz is a consummate scientist and former professional magician. His scientific research and writing have made substantial contributions to our understanding of hypnosis, placebo effects, and suggestion. His book will amaze and entertain you, while at the same time being firmly rooted in the scientific data. It is a magical book.”--Irving Kirsch, PhD, author of The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth

"[This book] could have been titled This is Your Brain on Magic. Told from the twin perspectives of a world-renowned cognitive neuroscientist who happens to be a professional magician, you’ll never again think about what you see, hear, and experience the same way.”—Daniel Levitan, author of This is Your Brain on Music

The brain is an amazing - better than any medicne?

Could be called -
Placebo is better than the real thing :)
It truly facinated me Dr Raz giving the numbers on how EFFECTIVE placebo's were.
All people had to do is believe :) The brain took care of the rest
Highly recommend for anyone thinking to go on ADHD or depression medication.
A great read that will change at how you look at effectiness of pills.

Intersection of Magic and science

Importance of the sugesstonable brain, placebo effect. Not so sure about psychedelics. Gave much to think about.

Not for everyone, but it should be

This is a very interesting look into how human humans and their brains work in the world. It was written by a magician turned PhD psychologist and was fascinating.

The power of suggestion

Provides evidence through interesting personal stories using magic and hypnotism tricks that we should use the power of suggestion and placebo effects to help people overcome illnesses. If you fool people for good it should be considered ethical.

Magical

I believe author is fantastic at painting the picture of his life’s work. I believe he is very smart and that this is important research. Coming from a clinical background I even believe that this book holds relevance on how I do my work. How powerful is it for someone you are working with to believe?