Added: Jan 4, 2012
From: RiverheadBooks
Duration: 2:21
Listen to award-winning psychology professor Sam Sommers discuss context and be enlightened into a new awareness and way of thinking. Get the full story in SITUATIONS MATTER: Understanding How Context Transforms Your World - on sale from your favorite book seller. "In this wonderful and witty book, Sam Sommers reveals one of the most important factors driving human nature. (Hint: Look around.) He demonstrates time and time again that who you are is shaped by where you are." — Jonah Lehrer, author of How We Decide "Understanding and appreciating the power of situations gives you a leg up in life, and Situations Matter is the best place to start investigating this challenge. It is excellent, entertaining reading for anyone interested in classic human questions about morality, conformity, and the real differences between men and women." — Tyler Cowen, professor of economics, George Mason University, and author of Create Your Own Economy and The Great Stagnation "It can be easy to overlook how ordinary situations shape behavior. It might seem like Sam Sommers is brilliant for choosing to write a book on this important topic, but he'd probably just explain that circumstance drove him to it. Still, we're all lucky he did." — Leonard Mlodinow, author of The Drunkard's Walk and coauthor of The Grand Design "I loved Situations Matter. True, I read it while sitting on my comfortable couch, but I bet I would have loved it no matter the situation, even if I had read it submerged in ice-cold water. Sam Sommers shows us the surprising extent to which humans are influenced by external factors. It's a fascinating read, and one that will improve your life in many ways, whether dealing with road rage, choosing a spouse, or trying to handle your boss." — A. J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically and My Life as an Experiment "Perhaps the least understood forces in the universe are the social powers that drive our thoughts and behavior. Sam Sommers is an expert at identifying these influences, and in Situations Matter he takes us on an entertaining and engaging guided tour." — Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality "This book is a true eye-opener. From the boardroom meeting to the dining room table, from why we love to why we hate, you'll never look at the ordinary world around you in exactly the same way again." — Wray Herbert, author of On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Mind's Hard-Wired Habits
Channel: Entertainment
Tags: situations matter sam sommers psychology professor context knowledge nonfiction
Rating: 5.0' max='5' min='1' numRaters='11' rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#overall ( ratings) Views: 2063 Comments: 4
kmerkelboruff Says:
Jan 18, 2012 - Great interview with Sam Summers & Krys Boyd on KERA/NPR Jan 18 2012. Summers is a fascinating speaker and the book SITUATIONS MATTER sounds like a good read for today. Also a great read for parents with Middle School students.
iceplayer112 Says:
Jan 29, 2012 - Situation and context shape everyone's actions. Thus, it's important to first understand people's situations, then how slightly alternate situations can shape people who are in similar situations' actions, then to negotiate or pitch or reframe. To say we're too focused on the context of situations isn't quite the case. We're too focused on the notion that someone's context cannot be shifted and reframed.
DraconianTroll Says:
Jan 31, 2012 - "When sellers offer first, the final price ends up higher." What if you're the buyer?
respectyouself Says:
Jan 5, 2012 - last :D