Everyday Survival: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things

How could you replicate a similar book? Subject both Malcolm Gladwell and Bill Bryson to a bad case of ADD. Join both of 'em up with David Foster Wallace and Charles Manson. Add Dr. Ian Malcolm (The Jeff Goldblum character from Jurassic Park). Find an editor - on acid.

Gonzales' second effort starts off as a lucid treatment of the psychological reasons why folks might execute stupid behaviors. Very informative. But after a few chapters, all hell breaks loose, and the author goes on and on with the most bizarre similes and anecdotes. The sex life of Bonobos, the limbic system, Mexican Indios' archery prowess, fractals, trash and grocery product variety, environmental degradation, trilobites, classic sociological studies from the 60s, the show more stock market, entropy, microcellular structures, the universe - all of these subjects are covered, and sometimes in the same paragraph. What most of these "examples" specifically have to do with human behavior, is not made particularly clear.

The epilogue is about the death of his father - that is all.

The author would make an incredible guest at a cocktail party. But his writings are not for the structured thinker.

If this sometimes entertaining book had a different subtitle (How about, "An Incomplete Thesis on Stupid Behaviors and a Variety of Other Ramblings") -- I'd add another star or two, in a heartbeat. show less

Both the title and the sub-title are topics I'd read whole books about. That they're smooshed together was an extra special treat. Everything in this book is quality, the research is impeccable and I admire his inquisitive mind. However, the title/sub-title are really just half of the book. The other half is random musings - albeit all fascinating. However, that half should be a separate book unto itself, or a collection of essays. He should have spent more time actually sticking to the titles of the book. He has plenty to say, I'm sure. Still, he's an excellent writer, with a genuine curiosity about the world. I suspect I'll add him to the list of writers whose full canon I wish to read.

The beginning of the book was great. A very interesting read. Just why do smart people do stupid things? I work in the chemical industry and found many of his insights instructive in explaining why accidents happen. But as other reviewers have noted, in the second half of the book he just goes off the deep end into nonsense. It sounds like from the other reviewers that his previous book was worth reading all the way through so if I see it I'll pick it up.

The parts of the book that pertain to the subtitle "why smart people do stupid things" were insightful and useful. However, once past the relevant portion, it reads as though Gonzales lost sight of the topic at hand...or perhaps the book was never really about the subtitle. The final ten chapters of the book are arduous and wordy with explanations that don't seem to apply to the current topic. The majority of the off-topic parts of the book try to state that the human species is not the supreme being but is an entity within an entity and (getting back to the subtitle) the destruction of the planet by human behaviors could be the most stupid mistake ever made. The huge biology/chemistry/physics lesson was more a random spouting of show more knowledge than to-the-point necessary.

I picked the book up - unfamiliar with the author - in an airport due to an unexpected 8-hour delay. I more than likely will not be reading Deep Survival based on the problems aforementioned with this book.**

**Turns out I ended up reading Deep Survival. I understand why so many readers are disappointed with Everyday Survival; it was a spin-off of reiteration. If you're going to read one of these books, choose Deep Survival. show less

Everyday Survival: What Laurence Gonzales Does When He Needs A Quick Payday.

I think my 3-star ranking mostly reflects residual good-will from Laurence's other offering: Deep Survivial. I bought this thinking it would be a sequel to his other book, and I wasn't disappointed, for the first half dozen chapters.

The rest: fluff and irrelevant to the topic ostensibly at hand.

About: The first six chapters are on why people do stupid things. There are 16 chapters.

Pros: First six chapters are interesting and about the main reasons why folks do silly things with good examples provided.

Cons: Last 10 chapters are an odd mix of material on saving the Earth, physics, entropy, natural history, "look who I met when I went here" and biography of Gonzales and his father. Sources not cited, only selected bibliography provided. Poorly edited: Caption of picture on page 22 of the hardcover is incorrect, "dollars" is spelled "dolars" on page 210.

I read about 1/3 of this, but could not get interested. A very scattered mishmosh of trivia.