People's mood is really determined primarily by their genetic make-up and personality, and in the second place by their immediate context, and only in the third and fourth place by worries and concerns and other things like that.

You should expect little or nothing from Wall Street stock pickers who hope to be more accurate than the market in predicting the future of prices. And you should not expect much from pundits making long-term forecasts.

One study found that people who just thought about watching their favorite movie actually raised their endorphin levels by 27 percent.

The dominance of conclusions over arguments is most pronounced where emotions are involved.

The most effortful forms of slow thinking are those that require you to think fast.

If people are failing, they look inept. If people are succeeding, they look strong and good and competent. That's the 'halo effect.' Your first impression of a thing sets up your subsequent beliefs. If the company looks inept to you, you may assume everything else they do is inept.

If people can construct a simple and coherent story, they will feel confident regardless of how well grounded it is in reality.