The Case Against Reality

SHORTLISTED FOR THE PHYSICS WORLD BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019Renowned for his profound and innovative insights, Donald Hoffman presents a compelling and thought-provoking exploration in "The Case Against Reality." Esteemed by figures such as Steven Pinker, who regards Hoffman as one of the most original thinkers among cognitive scientists, this book challenges conventional perceptions about the nature of reality. Hoffman posits that our sensory experiences do not depict the world as it truly is, but rather what evolutionarily benefits us for survival. He compares our perception to the icons on a computer desktop—a simplified interface for something inherently complex and incomprehensible. Just as a folder icon represents underlying data that is far from the simple icon itself, our perceptions serve as adaptable shortcuts shaped by natural selection. This analogy extends to how these perceptions can be ingeniously manipulated through advertising and design to influence our decisions and experiences. With over three decades of his pioneering research interwoven with concepts from evolutionary biology, game theory, neuroscience, and philosophy, Hoffman persuades readers to reconsider their understanding of the world. "The Case Against Reality" takes readers on a captivating intellectual journey, compelling us to question the very essence of what we perceive with our senses.