The Perils of Perception: why we’re wrong about nearly everything

We're often very wrong about the most basic facts. Whether it’s regarding our societies and how they’re changing, the state of the world today, or supposedly common knowledge, our preconceptions and the media can lead to perceptions that are sometimes extremely at odds with reality.

In this IJMR Lecture based on his book The Perils of Perception, Bobby Duffy draws on over 100,000 interviews across 40 countries to uncover our misconceptions on everything from obesity levels, immigrant numbers, trends in crime and terrorism, how much we need in a pension pot, the sex lives of young people – and of course Brexit, Trump and Facebook.

Bobby, Professor of Public Policy at King’s College London and Director of the Policy Institute at King’s, will give insight into the most startling misconceptions and explain why we’re wrong about nearly everything.

Praise for The Perils of Perception

"Mandatory reading. This mind-altering book shows how most of us are badly deluded about the state of the world."

Steven Pinker – Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now

"A tour-de-force. Required reading for all engaged citizens of the world."

Dame Louise Casey former senior British government official and former Deputy Director of Shelter

"A superb and timely analysis of a genuine and growing threat to democratic debate."

Alastair Campbell – author and former Downing Street Press Secretary

"Simply indispensable. Marrying fascinating data with superb analysis, this is a unique book."

Matthew d'Ancona – author of Post-Truth and Editor-in-Chief, Finch Publishing

Booking: This event is now fully booked. Please email networking@mrs.org.uk to be added to the waiting list.