Everything Is ObviousH: HOnce You Know the Answer

While what we mean when we say "common sense" may seem to most people like, well, common sense, it is in reality a series of complex social rules, a priori assumptions, and inaccurate instinctive responses, argues Watts (The Structures and Dynamics of Networks) in his absorbing new effort. Watts splits his book into two sections%E2%80%94common sense and uncommon sense%E2%80%94and presents his examination in 10 chapters that range from "Thinking About Thinking" to "The Proper Study of Mankind." Watts, a sociology professor at Columbia University, references sociological puzzles he's given his students, asking them, for instance, to determine the reason behind an 80% difference in organ-donation rates in two European countries (it's simpler than you'd think). He taps into everything from marketing (a field relying heavily on sociological concepts) to Artificial Intelligence, methodically unpacking assumptions and revealing the hidden intricacies of what we call obvious. Assuring us that "We don't think the way we think we think," Watts unveils the complexities in the science of sociology and offers intriguing ways of testing our assumptions. Watts is clearly a gifted educator; he makes complex concepts and opaque disciplines accessible and pertinent, resulting in a readable, entertaining, and useful book. (Feb.)