Hey everyone, welcome back for more Book Bites. You know, those big ideas, but we try and like condense them down into these nice digestible little bites. And today we're going to be looking at, look again, this book by Talia Shiro.
The Power of Noticing What Was Always There. Catchy title, huh? Came out just this year, 2024. Yeah, so it's a pretty recent one.
You know, I was browsing the shelves at the bookstore the other day and it kind of jumped out at me. You know, it's one of those books that just catches your eye. And I thought, okay, this could be interesting for Book Bites, so I picked it up.
It's not a huge book either, which is always a plus, like 288 pages. Yeah, that's manageable. So where does this one land for you? Like, is it straight psychology, self-help, personal development? What section are we in here? You know, it's kind of hard to say for sure.
It kind of straddles all those categories. But I think at its core, it really is about understanding how our minds work. You know, like the psychology of everyday life.
And it's interesting, like looking at the reviews, it's got people talking, you know? It's averaging about a 3.6 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. Yeah, I saw that. Not like a runaway hit, but definitely some mixed opinions.
Definitely. Some people are calling it like a real eye opener, but others felt it was kind of, I don't know, maybe a little too basic or like rehashing familiar ideas. Yeah, I can see that.
But hey, even if it just gets you thinking a little differently about things, I think that's a win. And for me, one of the biggest takeaways was this whole concept of habituation. Ah, yes.
Habituation, the brain's way of saying, seen it, done that, moving on. Exactly. Like our brains are constantly bombarded with information, right? So they have to develop these ways of filtering things out, focusing on what's new or important, and just kind of tuning out the rest.
It's like if something is predictable and not a threat, the brain's like, OK, we got this. No need to waste energy paying attention anymore. Makes sense.
But then it gets you thinking about how that might be affecting us in ways we don't even realize. Oh, absolutely. And Shereau really dives into that.
She even talks about this visual illusion called Troxler's fading. Have you heard of that? I think so. Vaguely.
Reflect my memory. So it's this thing where if you stare at a fixed point in your visual field, anything in the periphery can actually start to disappear. No way.
Like literally vanish. Yeah. It's because your brain stops processing the unchanging information.
Wow. That's wild. You know, thinking about it, though, it does make sense.
Like if you think about living in a city, all that noise just kind of fades into the background. Right. It's just white noise.
But if you have a friend visiting from, I don't know, like a quiet little town or something, they're probably going to be like, how can you live with all this racket? Exactly. They're not habituated to it yet. And it's not just sounds either, right? It's like, you know, smells or even the way your own house looks.
Totally. You walk in every day, same furniture, same layout, and eventually your brain just kind of glosses over it. Yeah.
And that's where it starts to get kind of, I don't know, like almost philosophical. You know, what else are we just not noticing anymore? Right. And that's one of the things Sherat really challenges us to think about.
Like, what if we've become habituated to things that we shouldn't be like, you know, injustice or inequality or even just the beauty of the world around us? Okay. So how do we combat this habituation thing? Like if our brains are hardwired to tune things out, how do we actually start noticing again? Well, one of the big things Sherat talks about is the power of breaks. Breaks.
Like vacations. Vacations are definitely part of it, but it's more about the concept of dishabituation, like intentionally disrupting the routine, giving our brains a chance to reset and resensitize. Makes sense.
You know, even just stepping away from your work for a few minutes can help you come back with fresh eyes. Exactly. There's this great quote in the book that really captures this.
Let me see if I can find it. Ah, here it is. If I was here for the last 18 years doing that all day, every day, it probably wouldn't still have pixie dust on it, but I go away and I miss it so much.
Then I come back and it kind of re-sparkles. That's such a good quote. It really speaks to that feeling of like appreciating things more when you've been away from them for a while.
Yeah. And Sherat even uses Julia Roberts as an example. You know, she's obviously incredibly successful and has all this privilege, but she still seems to have this sense of wonder and gratitude.
And the book suggests that maybe it's because she travels so much, so she's constantly getting these little breaks that allow her to re-appreciate things. That's interesting. It's like, even if your life is amazing, you can still fall into that trap of taking things for granted.
So those breaks, whether it's a vacation or just a change of scenery, they can really help you snap out of it. Totally. And there's even research that backs this up.
There was this study where people who ate macaroni and cheese every day enjoyed it less over time than those who only had it once a week. Mac and cheese, huh? Sounds like a tough experiment. Right.
But it's fascinating because it shows that even for something as simple as food, the anticipation and the break actually enhance the enjoyment. Okay. That makes sense.
It's like, if you have something all the time, it loses its specialness. Right. So even little things can make a difference.
Like, sure, it suggests that even taking short breaks when you're listening to music can actually make you enjoy it more overall. Hmm. I never thought about that.
I guess it's because those little pauses prevent your brain from completely tuning out. Exactly. It keeps those novelty receptors firing.
So breaks are good. Got it. What else did Look Again get you thinking about? Well, it also made me think about this whole midlife crisis thing.
Like, is it really just about age or is there something deeper going on? Yeah. That's a good question. So apparently there's this dip in reported happiness that's often observed in people in their 40s and 50s.
Really? I never heard that. Yeah. And Sherrod suggests that it might be because at that point in life, people often feel like they're in a rut.
You know, they've settled into their careers, their families, their routines, and there's just not as much novelty or excitement anymore. So even if life is good, stable, secure, that lack of newness can actually make people less happy. Yeah.
It's kind of counterintuitive, but that's what the research seems to suggest. Our brains crave change and stimulation, even if it's just a little bit. But then here's the interesting thing.
Sherrod points out that happiness tends to increase again in later life. Yeah. Like in the late 50s and early 60s.
So what's the explanation for that? Well, it could be that at that stage, people are going through new transitions, kids are leaving home, retirement is on the horizon, and there's more opportunity to pursue new interests or adventures. I see. So it's like life opens up again, and there's that sense of newness and possibility that was maybe missing in midlife.
That's the idea. It's fascinating how much our happiness seems to be tied to change, whether we realize it or not. Totally.
And speaking of change, another big theme in Look Again is this idea that experiences tend to bring more lasting joy than material possession. Ah, yeah. That classic debate.
Like, should you spend your money on things or on experiences? Right. And Sherrod argues that while material goods can give us a quick hit of happiness, that satisfaction tends to fade pretty quickly as we get used to having them around. You know, like the new car smell.
Tell me about it. I get so excited about a new gadget or a new outfit, and then like a week later, it's just another thing. It's almost like our brains are wired to adapt to the new and then just kind of move on.
But experiences, she says, are different. Okay. So how so? Well, because the memories of those experiences can actually become more meaningful and enjoyable over time.
Like, you know, you go on a trip, and sure, it's fun while you're there, but then afterwards, you have all these stories and memories that you can revisit and share. Yeah. And those memories can even evolve and change in your mind as you tell them and retell them.
Exactly. And Sherrod even mentioned seeing Prince in concert as an example. You know, that was probably an amazing experience at the time.
But now, years later, it's become this legendary memory that continues to bring her joy. Yeah. And it's not just big, splashy experiences either, right? It could be something as simple as learning a new skill or trying a new hobby.
Absolutely. Anything that challenges you, engages you, and creates lasting memories. And here's another interesting point.
The book says that people are more likely to regret not having an experience than they are to regret not buying something. Oh, yeah. That makes sense.
Like, you might not even remember that shirt you wanted to buy five years ago, but you'd probably still remember that trip to Paris you didn't take. Exactly. And on that note, let's talk about something that can really distort our perception of experiences.
Social media. Oh, yeah. That rabbit hole.
Right. So look, again, it explores how all this exposure to curated online lives can actually mess with our happiness. Yeah, because you're constantly seeing these highlight reels, these perfect filtered versions of people's lives.
It's so easy to start comparing yourself and feeling like you're not measuring up. Totally. And Chirot points out that even though we logically know that people are only posting their best moments, our emotional brains don't necessarily catch up.
So we still feel that twinge of ennui, that sense of inadequacy, even if we know it's not a fair comparison. Yeah. It's like that same comparison is the thief of joy.
And there's actually research that shows that taking breaks from social media, or even just reducing your usage, can have a really positive impact on your well-being. Oh, for sure. I know I always feel better after a good social media detox.
Right. And studies have shown that deactivating Facebook, for example, can lead to increased happiness, greater life satisfaction, and lower levels of anxiety and depression. It's almost like all that curated content creates this distorted baseline.
So when you step away from it, you can recalibrate and appreciate your own life more. Exactly. And the addictive nature of social media, that constant need for validation and engagement, that definitely plays a role in the habituation process too.
Okay. So we've talked about the downsides of habituation, but is there a way to use it to our advantage? Like, can we intentionally hack our brains to be happier? Well, Look, again, suggests that one way to do this is by consciously introducing change into our lives. And one of the concepts Sherit talks about is chopping up the good.
Chopping up the good. What does that even mean? So it's basically the idea that you can prolong the enjoyment of a positive experience by breaking it up into smaller segments with little pauses in between. Okay.
So instead of just like binge watching your favorite show, you'd watch an episode, take a break, then watch another episode. Exactly. Or if you're on vacation, you might savor those first moments more, the first glimpse of the ocean, the first swim, the first cocktail on the beach.
I see. It's like giving your brain a chance to reset and appreciate each moment more fully. Right.
And then on the flip side, there's the idea of swallowing the bad whole. Okay. That sounds less fun.
Yeah. It's basically the principle that if you have to go through something unpleasant, it's usually better to just get it over with quickly rather than dragging it out. Makes sense.
Like ripping off a band-aid. Exactly. Because prolonging a negative experience just gives your brain more time to dwell on it and potentially habituate to those bad feelings.
So chop at the good, swallow the bad whole. Got it. What else can we do to kind of shake things up and keep our brains engaged? Well, look, again, also talks about the connection between change and creativity.
Oh, interesting. So like if you want to be more creative, you need to shake up your routine. That's one way to look at it.
Even small changes in your environment or your daily habits can signal to your brain that you're in a new context, which can spark new ideas and ways of thinking. Like if you rearrange your furniture, you might suddenly see your living room in a whole new light. Exactly.
And there's even research that shows that people who move to a new country often demonstrate increased creative problem-solving abilities. It's like being in a new environment forces you to think differently and come up with new solutions. Right.
And the book also suggests that sometimes not fully habituating to a situation can actually be a source of creative insight. How so? Well, because if you haven't completely tuned something out, you might still notice details and nuances that others have become blind to. This can give you a fresh perspective and allow you to see opportunities for improvement that others might miss.
So it's like being the outsider, the one who hasn't yet been fully indoctrinated into the way things are always done. Exactly. And Chereau gives the example of how people from different fields or backgrounds can often bring the most innovative ideas to a particular industry.
Yeah, that makes sense. They're not limited by the same assumptions and habits of thought. Right.
And speaking of habits of thought, Look Again also delves into some of the darker sides of habituation, like how our brains can actually become desensitized to dishonesty. Oh, wow. That's a little scary.
Yeah, it is. Studies have shown that with each lie we tell, the amygdala, the part of our brain that processes emotions like guilt and fear, actually responds less and less. So the more we lie, the easier it becomes.
Unfortunately, yes. It's like that analogy Chereau uses about perfume. At first you smell it strongly, but the more you wear it, the less you notice it.
So with dishonesty, as we become habituated to it, we might start to engage in bigger and bigger lies without feeling as much guilt or remorse. Exactly. Which is why it's so important to address even small acts of dishonesty early on before they become bigger problems.
Nip it in the bud, right. Right. And this principle of habituation also applies to misinformation.
Oh yeah, that's a big one these days. So the book talks about the illusory truth effect, which is basically our tendency to believe something is true if we've heard it repeated multiple times. It's like repetition breeds familiarity, and familiarity breeds believability.
Exactly. And it's not just about the content itself, but also how it's presented. Information that's easy to process, whether it's due to clear language, a readable font, or a visually appealing presentation, tends to be perceived as more truthful.
Wow. So even the way information is packaged can influence whether we believe it. Sadly, yes.
It's almost like our brains are wired to take shortcuts. So if something is presented in a way that requires less mental effort, we're more likely to accept it as true. Okay.
So habituation can definitely lead us astray in some pretty significant ways. Definitely. And on that note, let's talk about one of the most concerning aspects of habituation, how it can contribute to the persistence of discrimination.
Yeah, that's a big one. So the book argues that in environments where bias and discrimination are prevalent, people can unfortunately become desensitized to it. They might not even recognize the discrimination around them because it aligns with their ingrained expectations.
Like, if something is constantly happening, it just becomes part of the background noise. Sadly, yes. And as Sharpe points out, we tend to notice what's unexpected and different, but we often overlook what's consistent and anticipated.
So how do we combat that? Like, how do we break out of that bubble and start noticing the things we might have become blind to? Well, one of the things the book suggests is trying to imagine ourselves in the shoes of someone who might be the target of discrimination. That's a good point. It's all about empathy and perspective taking.
Exactly. Because by putting ourselves in someone else's shoes, we might start to see things that we wouldn't have noticed before. We might start to recognize the subtle ways that bias and discrimination manifest in our everyday lives.
And maybe that can help us become more aware of our own biases too. Absolutely. And the book even talks about dishabituation entrepreneurs.
These are individuals who are particularly attuned to ingrained biases and actively work to challenge and change them. It's like they're the ones who are constantly poking and prodding, trying to wake everyone up to the things we've become too comfortable with. Exactly.
So yeah, again, it's really a fascinating exploration of how habituation shapes our lives in so many ways, both positive and negative. It definitely gives you a lot to think about. And even if you don't agree with everything Shurit says, I think it's valuable to just be more aware of this process of habituation, how it might be affecting us.
I agree. It's all about being more mindful, more intentional about how we engage with the world around us. Well, that was our look again, The Power of Noticing What Was Always There by Tala Shurit.
Definitely a book that makes you think. For sure. Yeah.
And as always, if you enjoyed our discussion, be sure to subscribe to Book Bites and leave us a five-star review. We'll catch you next time. See you then.
Bye. Bye.
