Confirmation bias and the truth

In this fascinating talk from May 2017, professor and writer Alex Edmans discusses how Confirmation Bias impacts our ability to tell the difference between truth and what we want to be true. He talks about how we make three mistakes in interpreting information. First, we accept stories as being facts. Second, we accept facts as being data. Lastly, we accept data as being evidence. It's not that stories aren't powerful ways to communicate; they are. It's that we need our stories to be backed up by evidence if we want to communicate the truth authentically. He challenges us to surround ourselves with people who challenge our opinions, pay attention to where information comes from and be sure people with the expertise have evaluated information before sharing…." because what we share is contagious." Whether in politics, our personal lives, or business, we could all benefit from a close friend serving as devil's advocate.