Cognitive Traps

Why do smart people make irrational decisions? Why do we cling to false beliefs even when evidence proves us wrong? Why does your brain lie to you—and why does it feel so convincing? "Cognitive Traps: How Our Minds Trick Us" is a thought-provoking exploration of the invisible mental patterns that distort how we see the world, remember the past, and make daily choices. Blending insights from behavioral psychology, cognitive science, and real-world examples, this book reveals the thinking errors, mental shortcuts, and cognitive distortions that quietly sabotage your decisions. From the confirmation bias that blinds us to opposing facts to the sunk cost fallacy that keeps us locked in bad investments, the book maps out the mental minefield we all walk through every day. It exposes how availability heuristics, anchoring bias, loss aversion, and other unconscious traps influence everything—from relationships and finances to politics and justice. You'll discover how false memories reshape your reality, how framing effects shift your perception without you noticing, and why emotional reasoning often overrules logic. Whether you're a student of critical thinking, a professional interested in decision-making psychology, or someone simply curious about how your mind works, this book offers the tools to understand and challenge your own biases. But this isn't just about identifying flaws—it's about reclaiming your agency. With practical insights on debiasing strategies, meta-cognition, and rational decision-making, Cognitive Traps empowers you to spot mental blind spots, avoid irrational thinking, and reshape how you approach complex problems in everyday life. Perfect for fans of Daniel Kahneman, Carol Tavris, and Dan Ariely, this book is your roadmap to thinking smarter in a world full of mental pitfalls.