Continuing my search for intelligent life in the blogosphere, I wanted to introduce you to a blog I've belatedly realised is excellent. 'Overcoming Bias' is from Oxford University's 'Future of Humanity Institute' whose mission statement says they are:

"...pursu[ing the] big picture questions for humanity. We study how anticipated technological developments may affect the human condition in fundamental ways, and how we can better understand, evaluate, and respond to radical change."

Good stuff. A couple of posts I'd recommend you take a look at. Firstly this one on thinking outside the box which has a great opening, and the rest isn't bad either:

"Whenever someone exhorts you to "think outside the box", they usually, for your convenience, point out exactly where "outside the box" is located. Isn't it funny how nonconformists all dress the same..."

And I love this idea of 'cached thoughts':

"It's frustrating, talking to good and decent folk - people who would never in a thousand years spontaneously think of wiping out the human species - raising the topic of existential risk, and hearing them say, "Well, maybe the human species doesn't deserve to survive." They would never in a thousand years shoot their own child, who is a part of the human species, but the brain completes the pattern.

What patterns are being completed, inside your mind, that you never chose to be there?"

I feel I should apologise for not having mentioned this before.

Now my duty is discharged.

Making Habits, Breaking Habits

In his new book, Jeremy Dean--psychologist and author of PsyBlog--looks at how habits work, why they are so hard to change, and how to break bad old cycles and develop new healthy, creative, happy habits.

→ "Making Habits, Breaking Habits", is available now on Amazon.

Reviews
The Bookseller, “Editor’s Pick,” 10/12/12 “Sensible and very readable…By far the most useful of this month’s New You offerings.”

Kirkus Reviews, 1/1/13 “Making changes does take longer than we may expect—no 30-day, 30-pounds-lighter quick fix—but by following the guidelines laid out by Dean, readers have a decent chance at establishing fulfilling, new patterns.”

Publishers Weekly, 12/10/12 “An accessible and informative guide for readers to take control of their lives.”

→ You can dip into the first chapter, or check it out on Amazon.com.