Stone Age Brain

Rick Shenkman is the author of "Political Animals:  How Our Stone Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics" (Basic Books, 2016). You can sign up for Rick's blog! Just submit your email address below and you'll receive an email every time he blogs. It's free. Your email will never be sold or transferred.

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• 
  Oct 9, 2019
  

  Saudi Arabia's Pearl Harbor

  by Stone Age Brain

  What a visit to a right-wing Japanese museum taught me.

  

• 
  Sep 8, 2019
  

  Should We Give Up on Democracy?

  by Stone Age Brain

  Some social scientists say we might not have a choice.

  

• 
  Apr 16, 2019
  

  I Stuck with Nixon. Here’s Why Science Says I Did It.

  by Stone Age Brain

  And what that reveals about Trump supporters.

  

• 
  Oct 3, 2018
  

  Why Can't Americans Accept the Fact that Columbus Was Not a Hero?

  by Stone Age Brain

  We should change the name of the the holiday, but don't dare. And no, it's not because Italian Americans would complain.
  

• 
  Jul 23, 2018
  

  Trump's treating his voters like chumps

  by Stone Age Brain

  Excerpts from an interview with Salon.
  

• 
  Jun 15, 2018
  

  The Psychology Behind the Trump Cult

  by Stone Age Brain

  Social psychology can explain the phenomenon.
  

• 
  Mar 30, 2018
  

  The Malcolm Gladwell Presidency

  by Stone Age Brain

  Why picking a president isn't like deciding what you want for breakfast. 

  

• 
  Mar 14, 2018
  

  Why This Was the Generation Cursed with a Donald Trump

  by Stone Age Brain

  The answer is not obvious. 
  

• 
  Feb 16, 2018
  

  Americans Have Again Ranked JFK Among the 3 Best Modern Presidents

  by Stone Age Brain

  Are they crazy?
  

• 
  Jan 31, 2018
  

  Why Stories Are so Important in Politics

  by Stone Age Brain

  Something every budding candidate for president in 2020 should keep in mind. 
  

• 
  Jan 19, 2018
  

  Is Facebook’s Decision to Downplay Politics Really a Blow to Journalism?

  by Stone Age Brain

  Facebook’s decision isn’t a big blow to the media. It’s an opportunity. All the media have to do is show the imagination to seize the moment. Carpe Diem!
  

• 
  Oct 3, 2017
  

  Country Guitarist Changes His Mind on Gun Control after Vegas: Why That's Not Surprising.

  by Stone Age Brain

  Evolution biased us to feel things we experience. In the modern world, that's a problem. 
  

• 
  Aug 11, 2017
  

  If We Go to War in Korea Trump's Poll Numbers Almost Certainly Would Go Up

  by Stone Age Brain

  How scary is that!
  

• 
  Jun 3, 2017
  

  When Will Trump Voters Realize They've Been Had?

  by Stone Age Brain

  History suggests we will have to wait awhile. 
  

• 
  May 5, 2017
  

  Don't Trump's Voters Care About the Truth?

  by Stone Age Brain

  The fact is few voters do.  
  

• 
  Apr 30, 2017
  

  No, Democrats Shouldn't Learn to Hate Like the Right

  by Stone Age Brain

  Anger closes peoples' minds and destroys democracy. 
  

• 
  Feb 15, 2017
  

  Russiagate

  by Stone Age Brain

  And what it means when we have a president who lies.
  

• 
  Oct 22, 2016
  

  Are Voters Easily Manipulated?

  by Stone Age Brain

  This election is helping answer this age-old question.
  

• 
  Oct 20, 2016
  

  Thank You Donald Trump. Seriously. Thank You.

  by Stone Age Brain

  For 8 years Rick Shenkman struggled to draw public attention to the problem of Low Information Voters without much luck. Then Donald Trump came along.
  

• 
  Sep 22, 2016
  

  How to Watch the Debates

  by Stone Age Brain

  An almost sure-fire method of determining how the candidates are trying to manipulate you.