The Suggestible Brain by Amir Raz Summary
Discover how suggestions manipulate your reality in "The Suggestible Brain" by neuroscientist and former magician Dr. Amir Raz. Why do we believe fake news? How can suggestions treat depression? This mind-bending exploration reveals the science behind why we're all more suggestible than we think.
About the author
Amir Raz, author of The Suggestible Brain: The Science and Magic of How We Make Up Our Minds, is a world-renowned cognitive neuroscientist and Canada Research Chair in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention at McGill University. A leading expert on the psychology of suggestion, Raz merges decades of neuropsychological research with his background as a magician and hypnotist to explore how perception, belief, and social influence shape human cognition.
His work, published in Nature, PNAS, and over 200 peer-reviewed articles, bridges neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral science, with groundbreaking studies on placebo effects, hypnosis, and attention.
Formerly a professor at Columbia University and founding director of Chapman University’s Institute for Interdisciplinary Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Raz has been featured on platforms like The Michael Shermer Show and Google Talks. The Suggestible Brain distills his research into accessible insights, revealing how suggestion impacts decision-making, memory, and even physical health. The book has been cited in major psychology curricula and endorsed for its innovative blend of empirical rigor and real-world application. Raz’s work has temporarily alleviated conditions like Tourette’s syndrome, demonstrating the brain’s remarkable plasticity.
FAQs About This Book
The Suggestible Brain explores how suggestion shapes perceptions, behaviors, and physiological responses through cognitive neuroscience. Amir Raz blends research on placebos, hypnosis, and magic to reveal how environmental cues and societal narratives rewire our brains. Key themes include combating misinformation, improving health outcomes, and leveraging suggestion for positive change.
This book suits psychology enthusiasts, professionals in neuroscience or criminology, and readers interested in behavioral science. Its accessible style appeals to those exploring mindset shifts, memory reliability, or ethical influence tactics. Critics note its value for book clubs due to provocative debates about antidepressants and societal manipulation.
Yes—it offers actionable insights into harnessing suggestion for personal and societal benefit. While some critique its skeptical stance on SSRIs, the book’s interdisciplinary approach (linking magic tricks to brain scans) provides fresh perspectives on autopilot behaviors and conscious control.
Suggestibility alters choices by priming subconscious associations—from placebo-driven pain relief to misinformation shaping beliefs. Raz argues that recognizing these mental shortcuts helps individuals resist manipulation and intentionally reprogram habits.
Some reviewers dispute Raz’s dismissal of antidepressants, citing insufficient evidence. Others find the later chapters overly speculative compared to the neuroscience-heavy opening. Despite this, the book is praised for challenging conventional views on free will and automaticity.
- Health: Leverage placebo-like effects to enhance treatment outcomes.
- Workplace: Use framing and priming to foster productivity.
- Relationships: Recognize how subtle cues shape trust and communication
Raz posits that suggestibility evolved as a survival trait, enabling rapid social learning and group cohesion. However, modern misinformation exploits this vulnerability, requiring conscious effort to discern truth.
A cognitive neuroscientist and McGill/Cornell alum, Raz merges 20+ years of brain research with stage magic experience. His work on attention, placebos, and hypnosis grounds the book’s claims in peer-reviewed studies.
Raz argues techniques like mindfulness and reframing can complement or replace pharmaceuticals for conditions like anxiety. He critiques overreliance on SSRIs, emphasizing context and expectation in treatment efficacy.
- “Suggestion is the invisible architecture of reality.”
- “To master suggestion is to master the lens through which we see the world.”
These lines underscore the book’s thesis: Our brains construct reality through absorbed narratives.
It teaches readers to identify “suggestibility traps” in media, advertising, and politics. Strategies include fact-checking emotional triggers and diversifying information sources to reduce cognitive bias.
In an era of AI-driven content and deepfakes, understanding suggestion helps navigate misinformation epidemics. Raz’s framework aids critical thinking in workplaces, healthcare, and social discourse.
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12117"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
12108"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
25417"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
964.5K"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
20116"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
37483"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
12117"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
12108"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
25417"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
964.5K"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
20116"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
37483"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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