Preview
  • The Age of Magical Overthinking

  • Notes on Modern Irrationality
  • By: Amanda Montell
  • Narrated by: Amanda Montell
  • Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (256 ratings)

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The Age of Magical Overthinking

By: Amanda Montell
Narrated by: Amanda Montell
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Publisher's summary

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From the bestselling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult, a delicious blend of cultural criticism and personal narrative that explores our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and highlights of magical thinking.

Utilizing the linguistic insights of her “witty and brilliant” (Blyth Roberson, author of America the Beautiful?) first book Wordslut and the sociological explorations of her breakout hit Cultish, Amanda Montell now turns her erudite eye to the inner workings of the human mind and its biases in her most personal and electrifying work yet.

“Magical thinking” can be broadly defined as the belief that one’s internal thoughts can affect unrelated events in the external world: think of the conviction that one can manifest their way out of poverty, stave off cancer with positive vibes, thwart the apocalypse by learning to can their own peaches, or transform an unhealthy relationship to a glorious one with loyalty alone. In all its forms, magical thinking works in service of restoring agency amid chaos, but in The Age of Magical Overthinking, Montell argues that in the modern information age, our brain’s coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to an eleven.

In a series of razor sharp, deeply funny chapters, Montell delves into a cornucopia of the cognitive biases that run rampant in our brains, from how the “halo effect” cultivates worship (and hatred) of larger-than-life celebrities, to how the “sunk cost fallacy” can keep us in detrimental relationships long after we’ve realized they’re not serving us. As she illuminates these concepts with her signature brilliance and wit, Montell’s prevailing message is one of hope, empathy, and ultimately forgiveness for our anxiety-addled human selves. If you have all but lost faith in our ability to reason, Montell aims to make some sense of the senseless. To crack open a window in our minds, and let a warm breeze in. To help quiet the cacophony for a while, or even hear a melody in it.

©2024 Amanda Montell (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio
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Interview: Amanda Montell explains why everyone is guilty of "Magical Overthinking"

I think a lot of us like to think that we aren't susceptible to misleading information or the charms of a cult leader...'
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  • The Age of Magical Overthinking
  • I think a lot of us like to think that we aren't susceptible to misleading information or the charms of a cult leader...'

Editorial Review

You’ll never look at a horoscope the same way again
I don’t believe in astrology, the law of attraction, or (most) conspiracy theories—but that doesn’t stop me from being obsessed with how many people do. And why not? Such supernatural thinking is practically de rigueur. Author, linguist, and podcast host Amanda Montell, writer of nonfiction hits Cultish and Wordslut, has a way with these topics, and her bracing take on today’s stickiest irrational beliefs—from influencer-peddled therapy speak to celebrity worship and positive thinking—might be her most brilliant yet. Drawing you in with personal stories, expert insights, and several cocktail parties’ worth of fun facts, Montell gradually reveals how the cognitive biases behind popular delusions spare no one, including her, me, and, yes, you. An infectious and engaging reader of her own work, Montell infuses The Age of Magical Overthinking with humor and passion, ensuring both die-hard skeptics and woo-woo acolytes will find something to love and learn within.. —Kat J., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Age of Magical Overthinking

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    3 out of 5 stars

Sorry. I could not make it out of the first chapter

I am pretty sure that I am not the target audience for this book. The premise seems good, but it does not start strong.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

This was a memoir pretending to be something more scientific

I get what she was trying to do but it fell flat because I didn’t pick up this book to hear personal stories from the author but I wanted to be well thorough researched book from someone that’s knowledgeable about the subject. The author was decidedly, not.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Nothing new

I really enjoyed her last book but found that while there were some interesting new points here, particularly about social media, the book was mostly rehashing a lot of pop psychology concepts.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Me encantó

Definitivamente es un gran libro, me motivó a comenzar a seguir a la escritora. Lo recomiendo.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not as magical as I had hoped

I almost turned this off early in my listen. I stuck it out. Some good stuff. Amid some meh stuff. I’m sure everyone will react personally to the anecdotes shared.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great concepts that needed to be explored deeper

I think another narrator would be beneficial as well as less personal fluff. I would have appreciated further explanation into the topics. Especially the topic of flow.

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timely, sincere and funny

We all can use help understanding our thoughts, biases and worries. Today’s contentious atmosphere makes matters worse. This book is a delightful way to contemplate how we can all do better

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Her voice!

I like the way Amanda Montell tells her stories. She helped me see how irrational we are as humans.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The Author has definitely stumbled on some very important issues in the Irrationality present in 21st Century.

Celebrity Culture The Sunk Cost Fallacy, the sensory overload we’re faced with every day. I was wrong!

She turned the whole book into a cutesy bio of a woman leading an incredibly uninteresting life. It would have been better if she honestly shelved it as Ditzy Biography so I could have avoided it completely. She has nothing to say.

2 1/2 Stars, ***¥ ugh

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Thoroughly Enjoyable

This book is a delightful blend of research-backed observations, witty insights, and touching personal tales. While Amanda Montell has a sharp and impressive way with words, her style remains welcoming and relatable. Her narrative voice is soothing and entertaining to boot. Bravo! 10/10 recommend.

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