This episode features a conversation with cognitive scientist, Hugo Mercier. It was recorded in February 2023.

Hugo studies human reasoning and communication, as well as cultural evolution, working out of the Jean Nicod Institute in Paris. He is the co-author, alongside Dan Sperber, of The Enigma of Reason, and the author of Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who we Trust and What we Believe.

Not Born Yesterday is the book that brought Hugo to my attention and is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in persuasion and influence. If, like me, you come from a marketing and communications background, it might tickle your cognitive biases, but it’s a super constructive read.

Amongst other things, Hugo and I discussed the reasons that climate change is so hard for humans to grasp, how we assess messages we’re exposed to as credible, or not, and what happens when we encounter information that doesn’t align with our existing beliefs.

Additional links:

Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe

Hugo’s profile at the Jean Nicod Institute

The Enigma of Reason, co-authored with Dan Sperber