Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and social psychology research, an acclaimed author demonstrates how so much of our thinking is informed by false assumptions—making us dangerously mistrustful as a society and needlessly unhappy as individuals.

The desire to fit in is one of the most powerful, least understood forces in society.

Todd Rose believes that as human beings, we continually act against our own best interests because our brains misunderstand what others believe. A complicated set of illusions driven by conformity bias distorts how we see the world around us. From toilet paper shortages to kidneys that get thrown away rather than used for transplants; from racial segregation to the perceived “electability” of women in politics; from bottled water to “cancel culture,” we routinely copy others, lie about what we believe, cling to tribes, and silence people.

The question is, Why do we keep believing the lies and hurting ourselves?

Todd Rose proves that the answer is hard-wired in our DNA: our brains are more socially dependent than we realize or dare to accept. Most of us would rather be fully in sync with the social norms of our respective groups than be true to who we are. Using originally researched data, Collective Illusions shows us where we get things wrong and, just as important, how we can be authentic in forming opinions while valuing truth. Rose offers a counterintuitive yet empowering explanation for how we can bridge our inference gap, make decisions with a newfound clarity, and achieve fulfillment.

'Must the tyranny of the group rule us from cradle to grave? Absolutely not, says Todd Rose in a subversive and readable introduction to what has been called the new science of the individual ... Readers will be moved' Abigail Zuger, The New York Times 'Groundbreaking ... The man who can teach you how not to be average' Anna Hart, Daily Telegraph 'Fascinating, engaging, and practical. The End of Average will help everyone - and I mean everyone - live up to their potential' Amy Cuddy, author of Presence 'Lively and entertaining ... a cheering story of how the square pegs among us can build successful lives despite being unable or unwilling to fit into round holes' Matthew Reisz, Times Higher Education 'Heartening . . . a worthwhile read for the aspiring nonconformist' Iain Morris, Observer

"Todd Rose's journey from high school dropout to Harvard professor is a welcome success story--one that leaves me rooting for square pegs everywhere." --David Finch, "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Journal of Best Practices" In the seventh grade, Todd Rose was suspended--not for the first time--for throwing six stink bombs at the blackboard, where his art teacher stood with his back to the class. At eighteen, he was a high school dropout, stocking shelves at a department store for $4.25 an hour. Today, Rose is a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "Square Peg" illuminates the struggles of millions of bright young children--and their frustrated parents and teachers--who are stuck in a one-size-fits-all school system that fails to approach the student as an individual. Rose shares his own incredible journey from troubled childhood to Harvard, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology along with advances in the field of education, to ultimately provide a roadmap for parents and teachers of kids who are the casualties of America's antiquated school system. With a distinguished blend of humor, humility, and practical advice for nurturing children who are a poor fit in conventional schools, "Square Peg" is a game-changing manifesto that provides groundbreaking insight into how we can get the most out of all the students in our classrooms, and why today's dropouts could be tomorrow's innovators. Todd Rose is a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, international lecturer, and leading thinker in the field of educational neuroscience. Today, Todd works at the forefront of innovation in learning science and education, contributing new insights about learning variability and helping to design new educational technologies flexible enough to support all students in reaching their full potential. Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has written three books on neuroscience and learning differences, most recently "Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention," as well as related articles for media including "The New York Times," "Washington Post," and "The Atlantic" magazine. Praise for "Square Peg" "This up close and personal account will resonate viscerally and intellectually with countless parents and youngsters, while providing them with renewed hope and eminently practical guidance. The humorous and genuine writing style engages the reader's emotions." --Charles Fadel, coauthor of the bestselling "21st Century Skills" and founder of the Center for Curriculum Redesign "Parents, teachers, and kids will find here both a powerful story and specific steps to improve so many lives and life chances." --Martha Minow, author of "Making All the Difference: Inclusion, Exclusion, and American Law" "Located along the same continuum as Walter Isaacson's "Steve Jobs," David Brooks's "The Social Animal," and Wes Moore's "The Other Wes Moore," Todd Rose's "Square Peg" manages to weave a deeply personal and often unsettling narrative. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to better understand how nature, nurture, timing, and chance influence who we ultimately become." --Dr. Chris Howard, president of Hampden-Sydney College "On any given morning, thousands of American children dread going to school out of fear of bullying and boredom. With its poignant stories, wise insights, and helpful tips, Square Peg points the way to a kinder, better future." --Molly Ringwald "In "Square Peg," Todd Rose takes the reader along on his hard journey in the education system; one that is bumpy, sometimes painful, sometimes joyful, and always insightful." --Larry Rosenstock, CEO and cofounder of High Tech High

For generations, we've been stuck with a cookie-cutter mold for success that requires us to be the same as everyone else, only better. This "standard formula" works for some people but leaves most of us feeling disengaged and frustrated. As much as we might dislike the standard formula, it seems like there's no other practical path to financial security and a fulfilling life. But what if there is? In the Dark Horse Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, bestselling author and acclaimed thought leader Todd Rose and neuroscientist Ogi Ogas studied women and men who achieved impressive success even though nobody saw them coming. Dark horses blaze their own trail to a life of happiness and prosperity. Yet what is so remarkable is that hidden inside their seemingly one-of-a-kind journeys are practical principles for achieving success that work for anyone, no matter who you are or what you hope to achieve. This mold-breaking approach doesn't depend on you SAT scores, who you know, or how much money you have. The secret is a mindset that can be expressed in plain English: Harness your individuality in the pursuit of fulfillment to achieve excellence. In Dark Horse, Rose and Ogas show how the four elements of the dark horse mindset empower you to consistently make the right choices that fit your unique interests, abilities, and circumstances and will guide you to a life of passion, purpose, and achievement.

Why don't Meyers-Briggs personality tests really work? Why are HR tests for new employees often meaningless? Is there another way of ranking students' performance? We all behave, learn, and develop in different ways, but these unique patterns of human behaviour get lost in massive systems that play to average performance and average abilities. From academic grading methods to job applicant profiling and even medical treatments, these systems ignore our differences and ultimately fail at measuring and maximizing our potential. The End of Average draws on the very latest findings in the fields of psychology and sociology to show how, when we focus on individual findings rather than group averages, we are empowered to rethink the world and our place in it. 'Fascinating, engaging, and practical.' Amy Cuddy 'Transforms our understanding of who we are and what's important.' Seth Godin

In the forest, something has awoken: something that whispers to the mind of a twelve year old boy who just happened to be taking a shortcut home; something that demands ever increasing amounts of blood and wood to sate its appetite for carnage. Being drawn deeper and deeper into the vortex of violence that engulfs him, his impressionable mind becomes a willing slave to the creature that slithers within the branches and twigs. Angry and alienated, he begins to walk a path that will ultimately reveal the secret of what lurks within the Shadow of the Woodpile . . . .