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Blind Spots: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things by Madeleine L. Van Hecke. Softcover, 8.9” x 5.9” x 0.6”.
Prometheus Books, 59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, New York 14228-2197, USA. Phone: (716) 691-0133 or Toll Free: (800) 421-0351 Fax: (716) 691-0137. Publication Date: April 26, 2007. 250 pages, ISBN-10: 1591025095. ISBN-13: 978-1591025092. Price $19.98
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This is an important, engaging book that should be read by anyone in a position of authority or in an area where common sense and recognizing how stupid decisions can contribute to ruin. Stupid comments by one person about another can mislead others into believing that person may be of a lower IQ.
The author points out that there are 10 common “blind spots”. She goes on to give many more ways to avoid these blind spots with lots of examples and ideas. As a self-help book, this is very user-friendly, giving the reader a new way of thinking. It is a fast read with real world examples and anecdotes that make it easy to use and follow. The book is also well written with chapters and ideas that flow. Because it does show us newer ways of decision making and thinking, this book helps us become more tolerant of other people when they say or do dumb things.
This book points out the differences between true stupidity and people who are simply untrained or misinformed in certain areas. On page 62, the book states that people can be simply ignorant of information, which to you or may be considered common knowledge.
The book goes on to teach how to defend yourself from being called stupid, by pointing out that we all had to learn during our lives and were not born with inherent world knowledge.
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The book points out that there are differences between academic intelligence and other areas of interest or activities. Which brings up the book’s other point: Diversity. We need to celebrate it, not just tolerate it.
Other chapters in the book go on to talk about how people are raised affects the way they see things. How one person sees something is not necessarily the same as others will understand it.
Another point made is that how we view ourselves can determine how we view the world outside of our selves.
 ...A good point of this book is to really listen to other people’s view points, as this is a way to learn and understand outside your own ability. We can still show empathy, yet as it states on page 120, “trip up because we are blind to another person’s perspective...
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A good point of this book is to really listen to other people’s view points, as this is a way to learn and understand outside your own ability. We can still show empathy, yet as it states on page 120, “trip up because we are blind to another person’s perspective.”
A caring person’s acts of kindness can be misunderstood by a person as rude, or insensitive simply by saying that person has a blind spot. We should still challenge their words or behavior, just as the person that said the insensitive remark should be given a chance to apologize.
I learned a lot from this book and it will cause me to question my own beliefs before judging a person or comment from now on.
This book should be required reading for all students that are entering college.
I enjoyed the way the chapters were broken down into sub-sections, first describing the blind spot, then with real life examples followed by methods to overcome that blind spot.
I give this book an A+
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Email: DuchessSammi@yahoo.com Samantha South is an independent reviewer based in the USA. She has been associated with this journal as an advisor and reviewer. |
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