Why We Think What We Think (Paperback)

Turi Munthe

ISBN 10: 1529153859 / ISBN 13: 9781529153859

Published by Cornerstone, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. An eye-opening journey through the secret forces shaping our opinions, this book reveals why we think what we think - and why disagreement matters'Lively and fascinating'Julian Baggini, Financial Times'This book is always fascinating but frequently mind-blowing'Marina Hyde, Guardian columnist and co-host of The Rest Is Entertainment'Urgent'Telegraph'Fizzing with insights and ideas. I loved it'Jenny Kleeman, author of The Price of Life'Intriguing. Munthe explains why robust debate is essential for a creative and healthy society'Timothy Garton Ash, author of Free Speech and Guardian columnistAn eye-opening journey through the secret forces shaping our opinions, this book reveals why we think what we think - and why disagreement mattersOur opinions - whether we believe in God or in ghosts, our views on sex or animal rights or immigration, our basic sense of what's good or fair - are shaped by a breathtaking web of hidden forces. The age-old idea that our views are forged by reason and evidence alone is wrong- we are influenced by everything from the quirks of distant history, through the geology of where we grew up, to the lines of our genetic code.This astounding book takes us through culture, biology, geography, history, psychology and much more to uncover the hidden DNA of our opinions. It reveals-why the descendants of rice farmers have different values to the descendants of grain farmershow our physical appearance shapes the way we see the world - and why conventionally attractive people tend to support the free marketwhy liberals think pineapple should go on pizza, and why conservatives prefer smooth peanut butter to crunchywhy hot and humid countries favour authoritarian leaders, and drought-prone ones prefer authoritarian godsPacked with extraordinary stories and counterintuitive discoveries, Why We Think What We Think asks a fundamental question of ourselves. If we are predisposed to our beliefs, how can we escape the bounds of our own perspective? The answer lies in disagreement. Argument is how we reason, how we think our way to a better world. To thrive, as individuals and societies, we need the other side. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781529153859

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Why We Think What We Think (Paperback)
• Publisher: Cornerstone
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1529153859
• ISBN 13: 9781529153859
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Since the beginning of time, we’ve seen ‘thought’ as the product of reason, the work of the mind. We’ve learnt to present our arguments in rational order, and we’ve thought of our opinions as the beautiful result of reason and evidence.

But this is only part of the story. A fascinating new body of research shows that almost everything we think – those complex justifications for lower taxes or prison reform, those long-pondered and sincere beliefs in God or Nothing, even the food we like or turn away from in disgust – has its roots in a mind-boggling collection of hidden influences – from our geography to our genes.

Packed with surprising case studies and counter-intuitive research, this urgent and entertaining book reveals where our opinions really come from and what they are for.

About the Author

Turi Munthe is a journalist and media entrepreneur who has written for, amongst others, The Economist, The Guardian and The Nation. He has appeared on the BBC, CNN, al-Jazeera and NBC and given lectures at universities all over the world. As an entrepreneur, he is the founder of Demotix, which became the largest network of photojournalists in the world and sold to Bill Gates' Corbis in 2012. He is currently a board member of GEDI, publisher of La Repubblica and La Stampa and is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish. He lives in London.