Unseen

About the Book

Can we believe our eyes? Most of us are confident that we can, but we shouldn't be so sure.

Every day, we fail to see things that are right in front of us, miss sudden or unexpected changes and fall for illusions without realising it. The culprit? Blind spots. These hidden gaps in our perception are responsible for errors in operating machinery, diagnosing medical conditions, giving evidence in court and even influence how we invest our money or shop.

Unseen explores the hidden corners of the human mind where perception fails, from everyday oversights to the deep-rooted cognitive biases that shape our worldview. Lifting the lid on how our minds shape what we see, neuropsychologist David Lewis and illusionist Keelan Leyser explore the different types of blind spots, why they occur, how they can be used to manipulate our thoughts and the practical steps we can take to avoid them.

From the invisible gorilla to deepfake deceptions, from the shopping aisle to the boardroom, from the courtroom to the magic stage — this book reveals how techniques of misdirection, priming and 'illusioneering' are used every day to shape what we see, what we believe and what we choose. It also shows what we can do about it.

Featuring over 30 video demonstrations of the psychological and perceptual phenomena discussed, Unseen brings the science of blind spots to life in a way no other book can.

What have you been missing?

Inside the Book

Twelve Chapters on How Perception Fails

About the Authors

Publication Details