Summary of Carl T. Bergstrom & Jevin D. West's Calling Bullshit

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Book Preview:

#1 Bullshit is not a modern invention. It has its origins in deception, which is not a new phenomenon. Animals have been deceiving one another for hundreds of millions of years.

#2 The marine crustacean mantis shrimp is a good example of how bullshit is not very sophisticated. They have to molt to replace their hammer claws, which are hard and protected by a shell, but they are still vulnerable during that time.

#3 The bullshitting behavior of ravens is similar to that of humans on the Internet. They do not have a theory of mind, but they do understand the effect their actions have on others. They are cautious about caching their food in view of other birds.

#4 Humans have a theory of mind, which allows us to understand how others will interpret our actions. This allows us to use communication to manipulate others, which is why there is so much bullshit in the world.

© 2022 IRB Media (Ebook): 9781669372233

Release date

Ebook: 25 March 2022