A fantastic audio reading experience!

So glad we get to listen to the author narrate -- it really brings the material to life and gives readers an intimate and fascinating perspective of who she is as an author, scholar, and writer. And I'm so glad we get to learn from Amanda in this book. She's a great addition to her field of scholarship and I really felt like I was thinking in new ways while reading.

I was really engaged learning about her ideas on hero worship, cognitive fallacies, sense making, digital and in-person behaviors, connection, and mindfulness. I also felt especially connected to her insights on nostalgia and declinism, ordinariness, and the evolutionary nature of paranoia. I think the author is a great mind, a thorough researcher, and a thought-provoking writer. She has a great (and millennially resonant) voice and an ability to accessibly convey complex information in a captivating way. Excited to read whatever she puts out!

The only complaint I only ever have about Amanda's books is that they're entirely too short! I want more! I want to keep learning from the author's unique and valuable insight.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. THE AGE OF MAGICAL OVERTHINKING is out now.

I loved this author's last book, CULTISH, and found that such a fascinating and fun read that I couldn't wait to get my hands on her latest. Sadly, I was really underwhelmed by this one! I found myself getting to the end of a chapter and feeling like I'd completely missed whatever point the author was trying to make, and this happened at the end of....every chapter? The thesis here feels so thin, so completely muddled, as to be nonexistent. What is she trying to say? What is the point? I'm not sure the author even really knows. Unlike CULTISH this all feels very thrown together around an idea that just doesn't have enough meat behind it to sustain an entire book. I'd still be interested to read whatever she puts out in the future but I'm hoping for something with more purpose and a more cohesive, compelling focus.

Amanda Montell writes sociology books for hot girls and on the one hand, I love her for that. I really enjoy how accessible her writing style is- listening to this audiobook felt like tuning into a podcast with a smart, cool host, and it made me feel *~cool and smart~* by proximity. Education in a way that feels effortless? We love that.

On the other hand, I don't feel like the essays in this book really added anything new to the canon, other than some sometimes-interesting personal anecdotes. I felt this way when I read Cultish a few years ago, but it only really crystalized for while reading this book- a lot of the psychological and sociological phenomenona that Montell defines in her writing is, to some extent, just common sense with a fancy label slapped on it. Maybe that's just a personal bias as someone who's already pretty familiar with this subject matter. But to me, the most interesting parts of the book and where I learned the most came from the specific experiments, studies, and stories that supported and demonstrated these cognitive biases rather than the explanations themselves. Maybe that's the point. But even among these interesting examples, I don't feel that this book as a whole has a lot of staying power, at least for me, save for a few fun facts.

So overall, it was a fun audiobook, but I don't feel that I really retained much or came away with any wildly interesting new information that I'll be turning over in my mind. Personally, I preferred Cultish as it felt a lot more focused with more intentional (read: less) personal anecdotes/tangents. But I'd still recommend this book if you're a sociology gworl, or maybe more for people who are trying to ease into the world of non-fiction for the first time.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I also listened to the audio version on my own personal Everand account.

This book was so interesting! I'm already a big fan of Amanda Montell & her study of language but this transcended that, taking aim at the psuedo-therapy speak popular in today's culture. It was an interesting blend of psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and the classic Amanda Montell humor. I really enjoyed this book & will definitely keep reading her future work.

I really enjoy Amanda's writing and other work including the podcast Sounds Like a Cult. This is my second book by the author and I'm excited to read more.

As someone with OCD, I found this book interesting and also helpful for my own "magical overthinking."

I’ve been wanting to read Amanda Montell for a while becuase I’ve heard great things, but struggle to take interest in cult stuff, so I was delighted to see this, a somewhat related study of groupthink and cultural collective psychology, but with a broader lens.

This is fascinating stuff that really makes you think about not just what we believe but why, and various cultural phenomena (many internet-related) change both our value system and sense of perception.

I’m particularly fascinated by the Halo Effect and especially the IKEA Effect, and Montell does a lovely job of explaining both in a manner both sophisticated and easily digestible. It’s psychology for the masses, but absent all the psychobabble and scammy internet “therapist” rhetoric.

In all, a quick read that is both fun and informative. And wherever Mr. Backpack is, I hope he reads this and weeps a little.

I loved Montell's perspective on "magical overthinking" and it was a perfect mix of personal tidbits and research. Really enjoyed this one!

The idea of this narrative was to navigate cognitive bias relative to what seems to be drawn to the attention of our new reality. Its visionary shows growth in different perspectives and changes. In what seems of things get overlooked in are generation. The author highlights what social media has brought to the table and explains the consequences of using these platforms. Also, she informed other matters in how society tends to receive information in a repetitive pattern and it can become a problem in the future. All this information was base on opinion and the way the author looks and overthinks about the theme that was presented in the book.

I, personally didn't enjoy much of the read. But I did finish the book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for letting me read and advance copy of the book.

This book of essays was very hit or miss for me. Some essays I found very thoughtful and poignant regarding how we interact with the world in an "age of overthinking", being constantly engaged with technology and social media. And some essays I found to be very fractured and weaving in and out of different thoughts while never really coalescing into a strong message.

super interesting subject! i really wanna read her other book cultish now! however, i think i would’ve preferred this on audiobook.

I listen to Amanda's podcast "Sounds Like a Cult" and knew that I had to read this book. I always find it interesting how Amanda weaves in everyday culture to see how we are being influenced, influencing others, and existing in the world.

This is a short book and each chapter is like a mini essay on its own topic which makes it easy to read, but while enjoyable, it just wasn't as engaging as I was hoping for.

This is a fun look into culture and how we exist in the world.

"The Age of Magical Overthinking" by Amanda Montell is a witty and insightful exploration of the quirks and complexities of language in the modern world. Through a blend of humor, research, and personal anecdotes, Montell delves into the fascinating ways in which language shapes our perceptions, behaviors, and interactions.

At the heart of the book is Montell's keen observation of the ways in which language can both empower and constrain us. From the subtle nuances of gendered speech to the influence of linguistic trends on social media, she deftly unpacks the ways in which language reflects and perpetuates societal norms and power dynamics. Montell's sharp wit and engaging writing style make even the most complex linguistic concepts accessible and entertaining, ensuring that readers will come away with a newfound appreciation for the power of words.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its blend of academic research and real-world examples. Montell draws on a wide range of studies and scholarly insights to support her arguments, but she never loses sight of the lived experiences that give language its richness and complexity. By weaving together personal stories, pop culture references, and linguistic trivia, she creates a narrative that is both informative and immensely enjoyable to read.

Moreover, "The Age of Magical Overthinking" is refreshingly honest and self-aware. Montell doesn't shy away from acknowledging her own biases and blind spots, and she invites readers to interrogate their own assumptions and preconceptions about language and communication. In doing so, she encourages a more nuanced and empathetic approach to understanding the ways in which language shapes our worldviews and identities.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is Montell's exploration of the ways in which language can be used as a tool for empowerment and resistance. Whether she's discussing the subversive power of slang or the role of linguistic innovation in challenging oppressive norms, Montell demonstrates how language can be a powerful force for social change. In an era of increasing polarization and division, her message of linguistic empowerment and inclusivity feels especially timely and resonant.

In conclusion, "The Age of Magical Overthinking" is a thought-provoking and immensely entertaining read that offers valuable insights into the power and potential of language. Amanda Montell's engaging writing style, combined with her deep knowledge of linguistics and her knack for storytelling, make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the ways in which language shapes our world. Whether you're a language enthusiast, a casual reader, or simply curious about the mysteries of communication, "The Age of Magical Overthinking" is sure to leave you thinking differently about the words we use every day.

In her third book, Amanda Montell explores various forms of irrationality we encounter and experience in our lives, such as the sunk cost fallacy, the halo effect, and confirmation bias. Although I did not find this book quite as captivating as Wordslut and Cultish, it was still well-written, witty, vulnerable, and honest, just as I’ve come to expect from Montell. I look forward to her future writings!

I just love Amanda Montell! I have thoroughly enjoyed all of her books so far, and the Age of Magical Overthinking fit right along with Montell's other works. The perspective and examples, just make a reader think. There were multiple times I found myself lost in thought about the various ideas she presents like the halo effect - especially with our perceived beliefs about "knowing" celebrities! A great book to really get you to overthink!

As a big fan of Montell’s previous book “Wordslut,” I was very excited and intrigued by this book. Unfortunately, the work felt too disconnected and bogged down by Montell’s personal antidotes.

I found myself intrigued by the topics, but just as I started to really become invested the chapter came to an end and a new topic was introduced. I think this book could have been improved by sticking to and flushing out a singular topic.

At the end of the day, this book reads like a collection of online articles and should be read as such. For those who find themselves intrigued, I think this book is best used as a jumping off point for more research, opposed to a comprehensive guide of the Age of Magical Overthinking.

In the all-too-adorable The Age of Magical Overthinking, author, linguist and podcast host Amanda Montell uses contemporary, online examples and personal anecdotes to explore a series of fallacies and cognitive biases that will be familiar to anyone who’s read a few Reddit meltdowns. She explains the diagram of the bomber jet with the red dots on it (survivorship bias). She talks about pop music stan culture (halo effect). She falls back again and again on the laziest kind of evolutionary pop psychology. Though she fits in a few good lines and stories, for the most part her analyses are unoriginal and surface-deep. The title suggests that Montell has some kind of unifying thesis unique to our age, but she doesn’t. She doesn’t have an analysis of class, money, or power either, which means that when her examples inevitably touch on politics, tech, and the attention economy, she’s woefully out of depth.

DNF at 46%

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. The title really pulled me in, but while reading it just wasn’t clicking. I couldn’t find motivation to pick this up, and can’t really remember what I read. Some part are witty, while other parts feel like a thesaurus of big words that made reading difficult. I think people that like, psychology, reflection type non fiction would like this, it just didn’t work for me.

This was a very thought-provoking collection of essays told with Montell's particular brand of wit and wisdom, making them as entertaining as they are insightful. I really enjoyed the setup and presentation, as well as the blend of anecdote and evidence.

I’m a chronic overthinker. Whenever I think I have a solution to a problem, or a course of action, I start doubting myself. I consider multiple other contingencies or potential outcomes. The result is some kind of neurotic paralysis, or a panicked impulse.

If overthinking means doubting the obvious solution in order to find a more complex (or hidden) answer, a lot of us are guilty. But not without cause. Today, the old adage of “if you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras” has been turned upside down. We’ve been told to doubt the obvious. Not least by mainstream media snafus, telling us not to notice the horses right in front of our eyes.

In Amanda Montell’s new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking, she wants to explain what she sees as a chaos of irrationality, driven by the information age. According to Montell, “While magical thinking is an age-old habit, overthinking feels distinct to the modern era—a product of our innate superstitions clashing with information overload, mass loneliness, and a capitalistic pressure to “know” everything under the sun.

Belief in authority started to slide in the 1960s, it has reached a new nadir since the Iraq war, the opiod epidemic (and other prescription drug scandals), and covid. Whatever your political stripe you’ve been given reasons for skepticism. And the online realm is full of hucksters ready to play on that:plus charge you a monthly subscription. Part of the problem of course is that what gets called “disinformation” turns out next week to have more than a grain of truth to it.

It was also easier for an educated caste to maintain mystique when there were fewer of them (and they weren’t showing their own idiocy on twitter). Social media is a magic cauldron of belief, the virtual Magic 8-ball of Tiktok or Instagram: every time you visit you can be served a new influencer offering you life guidance. And a video from some random person on instagram can be just as - if not more - convincing than an interview with a medical professional, zooming into CNN from his living room.

She wants to explore “so much of the zeitgeist’s general illogic, like people with master’s degrees basing their social calendars on Mercury’s position in the cosmos, or our neighbors opting not to get vaccinated because a YouTuber in palazzo pants said it would “downgrade their DNA.”

Yet Montell is relunctant to lay this at the feet of postmodern views in education, which allow for “different ways of knowing” and people to have their “own truth”. Indeed, people with Master’s degrees are precisely the target market for many Youtube influencers. The group most likely to be seduced by a message of “you’re not among the moronic masses, falling for the big con. You’re smarter. After all, you were curious enough to come looking for the truth”. And that’s the real lure of some scams, just as it is for cults. The victims are lured in by being told they are smarter than everyone else.

Pop-up ads tell us about this “one simple trick” that will melt belly fat, or cure baldness. That the medical profession is either oblivious to this “cure” (or conniving in hiding it, because they are in cahoots with the pharmaceutical companies), are the explanations for why we are learning about this medical miracle from Tiktok and not Johns Hopkins.

Montell writes about various oddballs, including the “Manifestation Doctor”, who apparently offers paid subscribers life advice. As she notes:

“Manifestation Doctor’s rise to fame, trust in the U.S. healthcare establishment, which was supposed to keep us safe from things like deadly plagues, had fractured so severely that plenty of citizens didn’t even want conventional shrinks. They were sick to death of red tape, insurance policies, and waffling chief medical advisers in $2,000 suits. They wanted a relatable populist who spoke their language, and whom they could access for free on their phones, to tell them in certain terms that there was one big, on-purpose reason why they were feeling terrible”

The “law of attraction” has been around for a long time, at least as far back as Napoleon Hill’s various bestsellers.

It’s the idea that if you just want things hard enough they will come to you. If you put a picture of a Maserati up on your wall, and just believe hard enough, you can get that car. Its an inherently moronic (and narcissistic) worldview, but it comes back each generation in different guises: and has expanded its reach thanks to social media.
a young woman imagining a sports car

After all, we can “manifest” what we want to be thanks to photo editing and filters. We can believe that we are the facetuned and airbrushed person in our pictures. Online communities mean people can live as though the “believing” and “being” phases are one and the same. The downstream effects of this shouldn’t be underestimated.

As Montell reminds us, “In 2022, a Bloomberg survey found that 98 percent of American middle and high schoolers expressed the desire to be internet famous.” This shocking statistic shows how much this world of manifestation and influencers have become our new reality. We may be under, rather than over, thinking how this is damaging both society and our shared sense of reality. These are the kids who are driving less, dating less, in many senses living less than earlier generations.

After all, if you live in an online world where you present yourself in one way, why would you ever wish to be seen in any other? (Huddling inside living on “no contact” doordash deliveries is an option, the accelerated hikikomori of a generation)
I'd stay at the door and start eating': Entitled takeout customers split opinion with excessive no contact delivery signage - Memebase - Funny Memes

It’s a rather disturbing paradox, of teens wanting to “influence” others but at the same time feeling the generational vibe that any unmediated human contact is an affront.

I’m reminded of the Bruce Willis film, Surrogates, where everyone stays at home behind a computer screen while androids of themselves (perfect in appearance and un-aging) go about their daily lives. We’re not at the android stage yet, but we have social media projecting perfection while we hide our imperfect selves at home.

The Age of Magical Overthinking is a general overview of different kinds of cognitive biases. It covers confirmation bias, the halo effect, declinism, and more. Amanda Montell shares research and anecdotes to reveal how these cognitive biases manifest today, both individually and as a society.

This book had many interesting nuggets of information. I especially enjoyed the chapter on sunk cost fallacy and how it can influence us in some of our most important relationships. It was an intimate chapter that showed just how much these thought patterns can unknowingly affect us.

However, I think I was expecting the book to go deeper. I was aware of most of these cognitive biases, and of the ones I wasn't aware of, I left with only a surface-level definition. I wonder if I would have enjoyed this more if she tackled less of them, but shared more research and application. In some ways, this felt more like a collection of essays. Structurally, I also wish there had been more of a conclusion. To me, it ended quite suddenly and felt unfinished.

Montell's voice is unique and fun, but I sometimes had a hard time clicking with it. The fluctuations between an academic and casual tone pulled me out of the reading experience quite a bit. It was hard to settle in.

Overall, I would still recommend this book, especially to someone is who is unfamiliar with cognitive biases. It's a great place to start, and I wish I had known that getting into it.