While we like to think that we act rationally, our environment greatly influences the way we operate. That's what this book shows, relying in particular on a study reporting the unexpected effects of a certain shade of pink, the famous "drunk tank pink". On the walls of a drunk tank, this pink calm aggressive prisoners and significantly accelerates their return to sobriety. In sports locker rooms, it destroys the competitive spirit of the opposing team, it can actually help you win an arm wrestling contest against stronger you! Three main factors influence us the names, symbols, and labels we stick on willingly around us. Thus, students unconsciously exposed to the Apple logo produce more original ideas in a creativity test than a control group. Patients whose bedroom overlooks the quiet greenery recover faster than those who only see a brick wall. This mechanism has its uses: it allows us to simplify our complex environment. Because these external factors are often difficult to identify, the author invites us to sharpen our awareness, especially when we have to make important choices. It shows for example that the first name given to a child influences the look that others see him and thus contributes to writing a part of its future. Many experiments are bluffing and help raise awareness of the relativity of our decision-making autonomy.
