Name: Be suspicious of simple stories
Uploaded: 2012-01-09T17:06:44Z
Duration: 15 min 48 s
Description: Like all of us, economist Tyler Cowen loves a good story. But in this intriguing talk, he asks us to step away from thinking of our lives -- and our messy, complicated irrational world -- in terms of a simple narrative.

Like all of us, economist Tyler Cowen loves a good story. But in this intriguing talk, he asks us to step away from thinking of our lives -- and our messy, complicated irrational world -- in terms of a simple narrative.

Be suspicious of simple stories

People often shape their lives into neat narratives, but only a tiny fraction describe life as a 'mess' when asked. Stories simplify complex realities, filtering out nuance and pushing events into familiar patterns like quests or battles. This instinct can blind people to ambiguity, encourage self-deception, and make them vulnerable to manipulation by others who bundle products or ideas with seductive stories.

Simple Stories Distort Life’s Messy Truths and Decision Making

*The Age of the Infovore*

TEDx