TOW Post #20- IRB: You Are Not So Smart

-Reading Goal: A more challenging text, requiring more thinking

-Writing Goal: A clear "so what" conclusion and linking rhetorical devices together

            Have you ever wondered why things happened? Things such as it being a coincidence, so crazy that it is unbelievable, yet can not be explained? Well there are explanations for these "coincidences" and we actually don't see the simple reasons for them. We often clip out the important points and ideas when we come to a conclusion or a rational explanation on our own, that lead us think something is a coincidence when it is not. Why? It all has to do with the way our brain works. In the recent psychology book, You Are Not So Smart, author David McRaney talks about these mind bobbling situations and trends and gives a thorough explanation.

           McRaney is a journalist, blog writer, and now an author. He has a deep interest for psychology and technology which gave him the idea to combine the two and start his blog, You Are Not So Smart. With study psychology more he then decided to write his book, using the same tile of his blog. I believe that McRaney purpose in writing his book was to open the minds of his readers and hopefully be able to change the way his readers come to a conclusion. He is able to achieve his purpose through incorporating hypothetical situations and humor.

            One of the first and most important strategies that McRaney incorporates well through out his book is humor. His readers might think that psychology, since it has to do with brain and how the brain works/how people think, is a boring subject. But McRaney instantly got my interest within the few pages of his book with his sense of humor."...You watched an entire season of Battlestar Galactica in one sitting--what the hell? You are already home and have no recollection of the journey" (McRaney 1). Throughout his book McRaney added in little humorous comments as if he was trying to purposely make you laugh personally. This really is able to keep the attention of his readers thus them wanting to know more about what he has to say.

              Another strategy he incorporates throughout his book is putting the reader in a hypothetical situation. McRaney will tell the reader to do something at the the very moment his readers are reading it, to make a point and or to create a better understanding. "Take a moment to look around the room which you are reading this" (xii McRaney). In this part he then goes on to explain we completely ignore our surroundings. This puts the reader in a situation that allows them to understand, thus opening their eyes.

             McRaney overall is able to create a personal connection and tone with his readers by using the two strategies: humor and hypothetical situations. By using theses strategies in a smart and useful way McRaney is able to achieve his purpose and impact many people who read his book.