Who Is Levitt And Dubner's Ideas In Think Like A Freak

Think Like a Freak offers practical solutions to real problems by teaching readers how to train their brains to think in new and unique ways and how to think freely in a world shrouded by the color of bias. Levitt and Dubner use real-life examples to illustrate and simplify the concepts they discuss in Think Like a Freak. The authors’ insight into human thinking, behavior, and motivation is presented in a way that is applicable to situations and problems in everyday life. Levitt and Dubner explain that selfish incentives are not the same as communal incentives when considering how to solve a problem. Most people are naturally inclined to put their interests before the interests of other people. Selfishness is at the heart of human nature …show more content…
When someone is completely invested in his or her viewpoint, it is hard to change that person’s mind. It is important to understand the most opinions are based less on fact and logic than they are her thinking and ideology and that sometimes conceding points of an argument actual works in your favor. The fifth lesson I learned from Think Like a Freak, is that the key to convincing others of your point of you and/or winning an argument is to acknowledge the strength of the argument of point of view of the opposing side and avoid insulting them. One of the most powerful forms of persuasion is emotional persuasion. Story telling is a powerful way to make an emotional appeal to persuade people who do not want to be persuaded if the story uses data to expound upon the magnitude of the issue. People are more likely to believe in your side of the issue or argument if they can relate on an emotional level to the point that you are making. When life overloads you with work and activities and you miss deadlines, its important to know how to cope. For example, if you have a paper due that you are unable to turn in on time, you are far more likely to receive grace or an opportunity to turn it in late if you are candid with your instructor. Explaining to your instructor how much you care about your education but revealing that extenuating circumstances …show more content…
However, I’ve also learned that the inability to say ‘no’ and/or quit activities or drop out of classes that I don’t have time for is far worse. During my tenth grade year at Jackson Prep, I became extremely depressed. I was spread far too thin and had no time to sleep, much less have a life or any time to myself. Instead of dropping out of the class that I knew I didn’t have the mental or emotional stamina to take, I kept going. I ended up making less than stellar grades in not only that very difficult class but my other classes as well because I was too stressed and busy to study. Looking back, I wish that I had understood quitting was okay and have been, probably,