Books Like Being Wrong

Daniel Kahneman

Like Schulz, Kahneman examines the mental shortcuts that make us confident when we shouldn't be. His account of intuition and overconfidence extends the questions Being Wrong raises about why certainty feels so good.

Dan Ariely

Ariely uses experiments to show how everyday decisions go wrong in consistent, surprising ways. Readers drawn to Schulz's look at our blind spots will enjoy his clear, anecdote-driven demonstrations.

Carol Tavris, Elliot Aronson

Tavris and Aronson explain self-justification, the process by which we protect our beliefs after being shown wrong. It is a close companion to Being Wrong's discussion of why admitting error is so hard.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, David Chandler

Taleb argues that rare, unpredictable events shape history far more than our forecasts admit. His scepticism about confident prediction echoes Schulz's warnings about certainty in the face of an uncertain world.

Philip E. Tetlock, Dan Gardner

Tetlock studies people who make unusually accurate predictions and what habits set them apart. It offers a practical, evidence-based answer to the humility about knowledge that Being Wrong explores.

Nate Silver

Silver looks at why many confident forecasts in fields from weather to finance fail. Readers who appreciated Schulz's attention to overconfident experts will find his examples equally sharp and well researched.

Matthew Syed

Syed contrasts aviation's open approach to error with medicine's reluctance to admit it. His argument that mistakes can drive progress matches Schulz's case that being wrong can be a gift.

David J. Epstein

Epstein makes the case that wide experience and changing course beat early specialisation. Readers who liked Schulz's reframing of error as useful will appreciate his similar rethinking of how people grow.

Angela Duckworth

Duckworth explores how persistence through setbacks shapes achievement. Like Being Wrong, it treats failure as part of growth rather than a verdict, and it pairs well with Schulz's personal, reflective tone.

Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell explores snap judgements and when our instincts are reliable or misleading. Readers who enjoyed Schulz's entertaining, story-led approach to flawed reasoning will find it similarly engaging and accessible.

Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

Levitt and Dubner use surprising data to overturn conventional wisdom. Their playful debunking of received ideas will appeal to readers who enjoyed the wit Schulz brings to serious questions about being wrong.

Michael Shermer

Shermer explains how the brain forms beliefs first and looks for evidence afterwards. For readers who want to go deeper into the science behind Schulz's themes, it offers a rigorous yet readable explanation.