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dr.Pep
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Copyright © 2025 Pepijn van der Laan.
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The flaws of Cartesian dualism become apparent when people have to make decisions in high-stakes environments

The flaws of Cartesian dualism become apparent when people have to make decisions in high-stakes environments

John Coates – The hour between dog and wolf

The perspective with a trading desk during the credit crisis provides a nice backdrop for the argument.

If power is all you want, just follow these 48 simple steps

If power is all you want, just follow these 48 simple steps

Robert Greene – The 48 laws of power

A pile of cynical, often conflicting, recommendations presented with Machiavellian panache.

Neuroscience increasingly provides evidence how the Arts  influence psychology and social behavior

Neuroscience increasingly provides evidence how the Arts influence psychology and social behavior

Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross – Your brain on art

Interesting to read how advances in brain science lead to confirmation of intuitive but traditionally hard-to-prove hypotheses.

Protective parenting and the quest for emotional safety hurt the mental resilience of gen Z

Protective parenting and the quest for emotional safety hurt the mental resilience of gen Z

Greg Lukianov and Jonathan Haidt – The coddling of the American mind

The writers provide valuable life lessons for individuals, but (unfortunately) do not discuss the broader societal function of protest movements.

Statistical thinking leads to better decisions, but unfortunately most people are bad at that

Statistical thinking leads to better decisions, but unfortunately most people are bad at that

Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass Sunstein – Noise

Overly simplified presentation of basic statistics that cuts some corners, as superbly pointed out by Andrew Gelman.

It requires a lot of dedication to learn superior memorization skills, but it can be done

It requires a lot of dedication to learn superior memorization skills, but it can be done

Joshua Foer – Moonwalking with Einstein

Endearing blend of journalism and personal experience.

To accurately ‘read people’ look for combinations of non-verbal tells

To accurately ‘read people’ look for combinations of non-verbal tells

Joe Navarro – What every body is saying

The glossary of non-verbal signals and their meaning makes you aware of the limitations of Zoom, Teams, and Skype, espacially in COVID times.

The human brain spends an incredible amount of energy on social interactions

The human brain spends an incredible amount of energy on social interactions

Matt Liebermann – Social

Line of argument that primary characteristic of humans as a species is their social behavior dovetails nicely with Daniel Dennett’s thinking on evolution of memes.

The MBTI type indicator helps corporates to contain the impact of individuality in the workplace

The MBTI type indicator helps corporates to contain the impact of individuality in the workplace

Merve Emre-The personality brokers

MBTI is more fascinating than expected, from its amateurish origins and its lack of scientific underpinning to its unlikely longevity and commercial success.

To succeed, do something that you like so much that you are willing to put in the required effort

To succeed, do something that you like so much that you are willing to put in the required effort

Angela Duckworth – Grit

The book starts as more-or-less scientific research into drivers of success, but ends as motivational self-help literature.

Kevin Ashton – How to fly a horse

Kevin Ashton – How to fly a horse

Creativity ( = ‘logical thinking’ + ‘trial-and-error’ ) does not fit well with most organizational cultures.

Unfortunately, the book contains too many anecdotes that feature Woody Allen.

David Lewis – The Brainsell

David Lewis – The Brainsell

The impact of many facets of the in-store experience on shopping behaviour can be measured neurologically (from pricing, to colours and smells). 

More emphasis could have been put on online shopping where more direct measurement possible and implementation is easier.

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Copyright © 2025 Pepijn van der Laan.
All rights reserved.