New York Times bestselling author Amanda Montell explains how magical thinking, irrationality, and cognitive biases show up in the 21st century.

As much as we like to see ourselves as rational beings, our life decisions are rarely guided by logic.

Whether it's obsessing over a celebrity, paying too much attention to astrological predictions, or staying in a bad relationship for far too long, most of us are prone to irrationality in some form.

Amanda Montell is a linguist, podcaster, and author known for her critically acclaimed non-fiction books Cultish and Wordslut.

In her 2024 book, The Age of Magical Overthinking, Montell combines personal storytelling and scientific data to explain how cognitive biases warp our judgment in the digital era.