INTUITION
Intuition is real, we can create it and measure it in the lab, and we now understand it with the neuroscience and psychology we already have. Crucially, however it’s not black and white. Sometimes you can trust your intuition, but many times, in certain states and situations you should absolutely NOT trust your intuition.
Ten years back, my lab and I embarked on an epic quest. Our mission? To show that human intuition isn't just a hunch—it's a real thing that science can fully explain. We wanted to pull this intriguing concept out of the shadows and into the spotlight, helping everyone understand what it is and how to use it.
The Intuition Book
Unlock your Brain’s Potential to Build Real Intuition and Make Better Decisions
What People are Saying
“Joel Pearson’s THE INTUITION TOOLKIT is a superb guide to the science and art of intuition. Pearson marries the science of psychology and a string of fascinating anecdotes to explain when and why humans should rely on intuition, and wraps his ideas in a framework that’s as useful as it is memorable. Highly recommended!”
“The Intuition Toolkit offers a breakthrough perspective on intuition based on neurological research I loved the clarity in its definition of intuition; it is inspiring and deeply original - transforming abstract concepts into a practical guide for developing and harnessing intuition in our lives.”
“By demystifying intuition while providing a practical guide for safer decision-making, Pearson helps businesspeople, parents, high-risk professionals, or anyone willing to trust their gut to make better choices by using information stored in the unconscious.”
“The Intuition Toolkit will appeal to fans of Malcolm Gladwell and those who were fascinated by the movie Inception”
“An utterly fascinating read.”
Some people use intuition more readily than others but anyone can learn to develop and trust it. The key is ensuring that certain conditions are met so as to avoid the pitfalls. Neuroscientist Joel Pearson has identified five essential rules for using intuition, easily remembered by the acronym SMILE:
S: Self-awareness (Feeling emotional? Don't trust your intuition)
M: Mastery (Learn before you leap: why mastery matters for intuition)
I: Impulses and Addiction (These are not intuition)
L: Low Probability (Don’t use intuition for probabilistic judgments)
E: Environment (Use intuition only in familiar and predictable contexts)
In explaining these rules, the book takes anecdotes from real life, including mountain climber Jon Muir’s lifesaving decision; a gameshow that uses humans’ innate misunderstanding of probability to rig its prizes; why you should never go rock-climbing on a first date; and what happens when Usain Bolt races in low gravity. The Intuition Toolkit is scientifically solid, highly readable and utterly fascinating.
