You are Now Less Dumb book cover

You are Now Less Dumb by David McRaney Summary

You are Now Less Dumb
David McRaney
3.95 (4695 Reviews)
Psychology
Self-growth
Inspiration
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of You are Now Less Dumb

Uncover why your brain sabotages you in David McRaney's mind-bending guide to outsmarting yourself. Featuring the viral Benjamin Franklin Effect and Charlie Veitch's dramatic belief reversal, this book reveals the surprising psychology behind why doing favors for enemies actually makes you like them more.

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Key takeaways

1

Why Your Brain Keeps Tricking You (And What to Do About It)

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Why do you keep checking your phone even when you know there's nothing new? Why did that argument with your uncle about politics only make him dig in harder? These aren't random quirks-they're systematic glitches in how your mind processes reality. Our brains evolved not for truth, but for survival, and the shortcuts that kept our ancestors alive now lead us astray in ways both fascinating and frustrating. Understanding these mental blind spots isn't just intellectually interesting-it's essential for navigating a world designed to exploit them.

2

Your Willpower Has a Battery Life (And Social Rejection Drains It Fast)

3

Why Roller Coasters Make Better Dates Than Coffee Shops

4

The Happiness Illusion: Why You're Terrible at Predicting Your Own Emotions

5

When Facts Make Things Worse: The Backfire Effect

6

The Silent Majority That Never Was and the Illusion of Understanding Others

7

Breaking Free from Your Mind's Illusions

Explore Your Way of Learning
You are Now Less Dumb isn't just a book — it's a masterclass in Psychology. To help you absorb its lessons in the way that works best for you, we offer five unique learning modes. Whether you're a deep thinker, a fast learner, or a story lover, there's a mode designed to fit your style.

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Top 8 Insights from You are Now Less Dumb in a Nutshell

Distill You are Now Less Dumb into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.

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Fun Mode - You are Now Less Dumb Lessons Told Through 23-Min Stories

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Experience You are Now Less Dumb through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments
201
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16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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