Description

Dr. John Bargh, the world’s leading expert on the unconscious mind, presents a “brilliant and convincing book” (Malcolm Gladwell) cited as an outstanding read of 2017 by Business Insider and The Financial Times—giving us an entirely new understanding of the hidden mental processes that secretly govern every aspect of our behavior.

For more than three decades, Dr. John Bargh has conducted revolutionary research into the unconscious mind, research featured in bestsellers like Blink and Thinking Fast and Slow. Now, in what Dr. John Gottman said was “the most important and exciting book in psychology that has been written in the past twenty years,” Dr. Bargh takes us on an entertaining and enlightening tour of the forces that affect everyday behavior while transforming our understanding of ourselves in profound ways.

Dr. Bargh takes us into his labs at New York University and Yale—where he and his colleagues have discovered how the unconscious guides our behavior, goals, and motivations in areas like race relations, parenting, business, consumer behavior, and addiction. With infectious enthusiasm he reveals what science now knows about the pervasive influence of the unconscious mind in who we choose to date or vote for, what we buy, where we live, how we perform on tests and in job interviews, and much more. Because the unconscious works in ways we are completely unaware of, Before You Know It is full of surprising and entertaining revelations as well as useful tricks to help you remember items on your to-do list, to shop smarter, and to sleep better.

Before You Know It is “a fascinating compendium of landmark social-psychology research” (Publishers Weekly) and an introduction to a fabulous world that exists below the surface of your awareness and yet is the key to knowing yourself and unlocking new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

About the author(s)

John Bargh, PhD, is an award-winning social psychologist and the world’s leading expert on the unconscious mind. His research has appeared in over 190 publications. He is currently the James Rowland Angell Professor of Psychology at Yale University and director of the ACME (Automaticity in Cognition, Motivation, and Evaluation) laboratory. Before You Know It is his first book.

Reviews

"John Bargh's Before You Know It moves our understanding of the mysteries of human behavior one giant step forward. A brilliant and convincing book."

Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and David and Goliath

“A fascinating and provocative new book by the world’s foremost authority on the science of the unconscious mind.”

Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness

“This fascinating journey through the inner workings of the human mind reveals how our conscious thoughts and unconscious motives intertwine to shape who we are.  An entertaining and intelligent book will change the way you see yourself and the world around you."

Jonah Berger, author of Contagious and Invisible Influence

"This book is a 'must read,' not only because it is about a fascinating topic—the nature of the unconscious mind--but because it is an engaging and accessible book by the scientist who did the groundbreaking research. Everyone should read it."

Timothy D. Wilson, author of Strangers to Ourselves

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