Description

Instant New York Times Bestseller
A BookPage Best Nonfiction Book of 2024

From Amanda Montell, bestselling author of *Cultish* and host of the *Sounds Like a Cult* podcast, comes a captivating blend of cultural analysis and personal storytelling that explores cognitive biases and the power—both beneficial and detrimental—of magical thinking.

Building on the linguistic insights of her acclaimed debut *Wordslut* and the sociological deep dive of *Cultish*, Montell now turns her sharp intellect to the complexities of the human mind. *The Age of Magical Overthinking* is her most personal and thought-provoking book yet.

Magical thinking—the belief that our thoughts can influence external events—can take many forms. It’s the idea that manifesting can lead to financial success, that positive energy alone can ward off illness, or that loyalty can transform a toxic relationship. At its core, magical thinking serves as a coping mechanism, offering a sense of control in an unpredictable world. However, Montell argues that in today’s fast-paced information age, our brains are overwhelmed, and these irrational beliefs have been amplified to new extremes.

In a series of sharp, insightful, and often hilarious chapters, Montell examines a variety of cognitive biases, from the “halo effect,” which shapes our extreme adoration—or disdain—of celebrities, to the “sunk cost fallacy,” which traps us in harmful relationships or commitments far longer than we should stay. With her trademark wit and intellect, she unpacks the ways our minds deceive us while offering a message of hope, understanding, and self-compassion.

For anyone who has ever questioned their own decision-making or despaired at the state of modern reasoning, *The Age of Magical Overthinking* offers clarity and reassurance. Montell invites readers to step back from the noise, make sense of the seemingly irrational, and perhaps even find something meaningful within it.