Wilful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril is a non-fiction book by businesswoman and writer Margaret Heffernan.[1][2] The book was first published in 2011 by Walker & Company.[3]
| Author | Margaret Heffernan |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Publication date | March 2011 |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 9780802777959 |
Overview
editWilful Blindness delves into the psychology behind why individuals and institutions often choose to ignore or overlook evident, harmful information or truths, even when acknowledging them would lead to better outcomes. Heffernan utilizes real-world examples such as the Enron scandal and the Catholic Church sexual abuse cases.[4]
The book covers a range of fields including psychology, history, neuroscience, and social behavior to explain how institutional and individual failure often results from willful blindness. Heffernan discusses various factors that contribute to this phenomenon, such as cognitive dissonance, obedience to authority, and love and fear.[5]
Reception
editThe book was a finalist for the Financial Times Best Business Book of the Year in 2011.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Professor Margaret Heffernan". collegeofparamedics.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "Book Review: Wilful Blindness". The Economic Times. 2012-02-17. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "APA PsycNet". psycnet.apa.org. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ Hill, Andrew (2014-08-13). "Margaret Heffernan, the collaborative capitalist". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "We must resist giving in to our biases". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ Graphics, FT Interactive. "Wilful Blindness by Margaret Heffernan". FT Business book of the year award. Retrieved 2023-06-16.