title: Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts
author:  Carol Tavris 
description: <DIV>PRAISE FOR CAROL TAVRIS&#8217;S ANGER</P>"Witty, provocative, and impressively documented, this work lights a candle in cursed darkness."&#8212;LOS ANGELES TIMES </P>PRAISE FOR ELLIOT ARONSON&#8217;S THE SOCIAL ANIMAL</P>"A rare gem of a book, easy to read but also scientifically sophisticated."&#8212;CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY</P></DIV><br /><br />"Social psychologists Tavris and Aronson, each of whom has published other works, here tackle "the inner workings of self-justification," the mental gymnastics that allow us to bemoan the mote in our brother''s eye while remaining blissfully unaware of the beam in our own. Their prose is lively, their research is admirable and their examples of our arrogant follies are entertaining and instructive." (<i>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</i>)<br /><br />"A fascinating book... I recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological and sociological studies. Sometimes floored, sometimes angry, sometimes sad, sometimes amused, but always interested, I can only hope that I will be able to apply some of what I learned in my own life." (<i>Bookgarden</i>)<br /><br />"A pathbreaking book that could change forever how leaders think about the decisions they make . Crackles with new insights and understanding. A must read!" (<i>Burt Nanus</i>)<br /><br />"This book should make it to the top of most summer reading lists. It speaks to the forces that keep us repeating harmful mistakes, whether it''s an everyday personal issue or an organization-wide problem. I''m interested in reading this book for a deeper window into my own behavior, but also for insight into the reasons that corruption persists around the world and vexes so many organizational and individual efforts to fight it." (<i>Business Week Online</i>)<br /><br />"In this pre-election time, Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson''s book bears a very prescient message: Just how does one learn from one''s mistakes if one refuses to admit culpability? With straightforward language and a readable style, Tavris and Aronson''s book will open your eyes and improve your life - that is, it will if you let it." (<i>curled up with a good book.com</i>)<br /><br />"This book is charming and delightful. But mainly, it''s just damn smart. Armed with reams of scientific data and loads of real-world anecdotes, Tavris and Aronson explain how politicians, pundits, doctors, lawyers, psychotherapists--and oh yes, the rest of us--come to believe that we are right and reasonable... and why we maintain that dangerous self-deception in the face of glaring evidence to the contrary. Every page sparkles with sharp insight and keen observation. Mistakes were made--but not in this book!" (<i>Daniel Gilbert</i>)<br /><br />"To err is human, to rationalize even more so. Now, thanks to this brilliant book, we can finally see how and why even the best meaning people may justify terrible behavior. Mistakes Were Made will not turn us into angels, but it is hard to think of a better -- or more readable -- guide to the mind''s most devilish tricks." (<i>David Callahan</i>)<br /><br />"Tavris and Aronson-a dream team of two of psychology's greatest communicators-investigate our self-serving explanations and malleable memories, explaining how well-meaning people stay the course when pursuing ill-fated ventures, then shuck responsibility when failure arrives. This is a fascinating exploration of our astonishing powers of self-justification." (<i>David Myers</i>)<br /><br />"Combining far-ranging scholarship with lucid, witty prose, Tavris and Aronson illuminate many of the mysteries of human behavior -- why hypocrites never see their own hypocrisy, why couples so often misremember their shared history, why many people persist in courses of action that lead straight into quicksand. A delight to read, with surprising revelations in every chapter." (<i>Elizabeth Loftus</i>)
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  Mistakes Were Made (but not by _me_ )
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  HARCOURT, INC.  
  
  
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  Copyright © 2007 by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
  
  
  
  
  
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