Human beings are primates, and primates are political animals. Our brains, therefore, are designed not just to hunt and gather but also to help us get ahead socially, often via deception and self-deception. But while we may be self-interested schemers, we benefit by pretending otherwise.

The less we know about our own ugly motives, the better - and thus, we don't like to talk, or even think, about the extent of our selfishness. This is "the elephant in the brain".  Such an introspective taboo makes it hard for us to think clearly about our nature and the explanations for our behaviour. The aim of this book, then, is to confront our hidden motives directly - to track down the darker, unexamined corners of our psyches and blast them with floodlights. Then, once everything is clearly visible, we can work to better understand ourselves:

Why do we laugh?

Why are artists sexy?

Why do we brag about travel?

You won't see yourself - or the world - the same after confronting the elephant in the brain.

We welcome the author of a multitude of titles including the focus for today's episode: “The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life” Robin Hanson.