The Power of Bad cover art

The Power of Bad

And How to Overcome It

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The Power of Bad

By: John Tierney, Roy F. Baumeister
Narrated by: Paul Bellantoni
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About this listen

Why does a bad impression last longer than a good one?

Why does losing money affect us more than gaining it?

What makes phobias so hard to shake?

The answer is the negativity bias - or in other words, the power of bad. As John Tierney and Roy F. Baumeister show, we are wired to react to bad over good. It makes sense in evolutionary terms, but in our modern world the lure of bad is, well, bad. It governs people's moods, drives marketing and dominates our news. It can explain everything from why wars start or couples divorce to why we mess up job interviews or feud with neighbours.

But there is good news. By using smart strategies from new science, we can train our brains to get better at spotting our own negativity bias and even using its power for positive results. Properly understood, bad can end up being a force for good.

©2019 John Tierney, Roy F. Baumeister (P)2019 Penguin Audio Career Success Motivation & Self-Improvement Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Social Sciences Career Health Human Brain
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