A provocative analysis of the human tendency towards selective ignorance assesses the impact of the phenomenon on private and working lives as well as within governments and organizations to consider why people may prefer ignorance and have different comfort levels. By the author of The Naked Truth. 35,000 first printing. Presents an analysis of the human tendency towards selective ignorance, discussing why people practice denial and assessing the impact of the phenomenon on private and working lives as well as within governments and organizations. Why, after every major accident and blunder, do we look back and say, How could we have been so blind? Why do some people see what others dont? And how can we change? Drawing on studies by psychologists and neuroscientists, and from interviews with business leaders, whistleblowers, and white collar criminals, distinguished businesswoman and writer Margaret Heffernan examines the phenomenon of willful blindness, exploring the reasons that individuals and groups are blind to impending personal tragedies, corporate collapses, engineering failures-even crimes against humanity.We turn a blind eye in order to feel safe, to avoid conflict, to reduce anxiety, and to protect prestige. But greater understanding leads to solutions, and Heffernan shows how-by challenging our biases, encouraging debate, discouraging conformity, and not backing away from difficult or complicated problems-we can be more mindful of whats going on around us and be proactive instead of reactive.
