Fool Proof: How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Our Selves and the Social Order—and What We Can Do About It

In this persuasive debut, law professor Wilkinson-Ryan contends that the “fear of being played for a fool” can result in underappreciated negative consequences. Drawing on psychology, law, and sociology, the author explores why the fear of playing the sucker is so potent, the ways it plays out societally, and how humans can benefit from judiciously deciding “which [threats] deserve attention.” According to Wilkinson-Ryan, being taken advantage of often feels devastating because it implies one has “cooperated in [their] own social demotion.” People will go to such great lengths to avoid it that they’ll forego benefits that have no obvious downside (she cites a study in which 90% of people avoided a booth advertising “Free Money,” though there wasn’t a catch). On a social scale, the fear leads to a lessening of generosity, while in the political sphere it tends to manifest as opposition to welfare programs. But since complete risk-avoidance isn’t an option—“You are definitely going to be a fool... some of the time,” the author reassures—readers should respond by accepting the “suckered” feeling and moving on. Wilkinson-Ryan’s analysis is compassionate and intelligent, and its basis in a mix of studies and real-world examples gives the advice a sound foundation. This is a thought-provoking entry. (Feb.)