Humanish: How Anthropomorphism Makes Us Smart, Weird and Delusional - Justin Gregg

Humanish: How Anthropomorphism Makes Us Smart, Weird and Delusional

(Author: Justin Gregg)

Ever glance at your cat and wonder if they’re plotting something? Or look at a car's headlights and think it looks 'friendly' or 'angry'? Discover why the human mind is compulsively hardwired to see humanity everywhere.

Anthropomorphism—the irresistible impulse to project human thoughts, emotions, and intentions onto animals, natural phenomena, and inanimate objects—is as natural to us as breathing. But why do we do it, and what does it reveal about our cognitive wiring?

In Humanish, cognitive scientist and Dolphin Communication Project researcher Justin Gregg takes readers on an eye-opening, hilarious journey through human perception. From million-dollar industries selling cosmetic implants for neutered dogs to pregnant mothers convinced dolphins would make great midwives (spoiler: they wouldn't!), Gregg examines the weird, wonderful, and sometimes delusional ways this mental habit influences our lives.

Exploring everything from cinema's obsession with talking animals to how we bond with AI chatbots and home appliances, Humanish unpacks the science behind our psychological biases—showing how anthropomorphism makes us uniquely smart, strangely empathetic, and utterly bizarre.

Key Features:

• Accessible Cognitive Science: Written by Justin Gregg, author of If NIETZSCHE Were a NARBWAL and researcher with the Dolphin Communication Project.

• Humorous & Insightful: Blends popular psychology, animal behavior studies, evolutionary biology, and pop culture anecdotes.

• Explores Modern Tech & AI: Examines how our tendency to humanize objects affects our interactions with modern technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

• Ideal for Curious Minds: A must-read for fans of Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel Kahneman, Mary Roach, and Ed Yong.