Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"Gripping, page-turning material . . . a new way of thinking about survival in a world filled with hazards and distractions." --Charles Duhigg, author of Smarter Faster Better and The Power of Habit

A safety expert reveals why few of us are as careful as we think we are, and what we can do about it.

As doctors and medical researchers work busily to extend our lives, more people each year are figuring out ways to cut them short. In fact, after a hundred years of steady decline, the rate at which people are being injured (or worse) in everyday accidents is increasing. Blame car crashes, pedestrian fatalities, home-improvement projects gone wrong, medical mistakes, home fires--not to mention all the crazy things that kids are into these days. And the problem seems to be spinning out of control.

Steve Casner has devoted his career to studying the psychology of safety, and he knows there's not a safety warning we won't ignore or a foolproof device we can't turn into an implement of disaster. Casner details the psychological traps that prevent us from being more careful. They're the same whether you're a pilot, a Hollywood stuntwoman, a parent, or the owner of a clogged dishwasher you're trying to fix with a screwdriver. Then he shows us gripping real examples of how and when injuries happen, so we know exactly what we should really be worrying about.

Careful arms readers with the latest science on how our sometimes fallible minds work, with countless takeaways to incorporate at home, at work, and everywhere in between. This book will help us keep our fingers attached in the kitchen, our kids afloat at the pool, and our teens safe behind the wheel, and demonstrates the many other ways we can maximize our chances of getting through the day in one piece.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 Words to Live By (p. 1)
• 2 Paying Attention (p. 16)
• 3 Making Errors (p. 34)
• 4 Taking Risks (p. 49)
• 5 Thinking Ahead (p. 69)
• 6 Looking Out for One Another (p. 85)
• 7 Taking and Giving Advice (p. 106)
• 8 Around the House (p. 119)
• 9 Watching Kids (p. 134)
• 10 From Here to There (p. 159)
• 11 At Work (p. 197)
• 12 Fires and Natural Disasters (p. 212)
• 13 At the Doctor (p. 229)
• 14 Getting Older (p. 252)
• 15 Will We Really Be Safer? (p. 269)
• Acknowledgments (p. 289)
• Notes (p. 291)
• Index (p. 313)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Casner, a research psychologist at NASA with decades of experience in the safety industry, states that the "safety revolution" is long overdue. With startling statistics, such as that there are 350 deaths caused from preventable injuries each day in the United States alone, his work suggests that we may be remiss if we don't start listening. He considers how our ability to pay attention is incredibly inept, that we are bound to make mistakes and take unnecessary risks, asserting that we often overestimate our ability to stay focused and multitask. How often do people text and drive despite knowing the ramifications? Casner informs us of our limitations and vulnerabilities, not as an insult, but rather to make us aware of the situations that can arise. He provides information on how to prevent these mistakes through awareness and by thinking ahead to possible outcomes. With humor and eye-opening data we may all hopefully become more engaged in our day-to-day lives and keep ourselves and one another safe. VERDICT Casner makes an overwhelmingly compelling case for safety. One of the most intelligent and impactful books; everyone should read it.-Melissa Keegan, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

"Being careful today seems harder than it used to be," observes research psychologist Casner in this fascinating debut. The number of fatal injuries has declined significantly over the past century, but since 1992, accidents have actually been on the rise, which Casner attributes to the influx of technological innovations. He proposes a proactive response, stating, "the next safety revolution is going to have to happen in our own minds." Using real-life examples, research studies, statistics, and his own experiences, he identifies six basic human vulnerabilities that lead to accidents: inattention, making errors (and being unable to admit them), taking risks, not thinking ahead, failing to look out for other people, and being unwilling to receive or dispense advice. Casner stresses that it is up to each individual to consciously try to overcome these failings. He cautions that people are constantly flooded with an enormous amount of information, which can make it even harder to make wise decisions. Riveting and relatable, Casner's book will inspire readers to take a good look at their own lives and the safety precautions they take on a daily basis. Agent: Sandra Dijkstra, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Book Review

A safety expert offers a concise, common-sense guide to not being killed by stupidity.In his debut, Casnera research scientist in NASA's Human Systems Integration Division, which helps maintain strict safety standards for astronauts and others involved in the aerospace fieldoffers a sharp, concise review of the things that can kill or harm us, how we contribute to the problem, and what we can do together to make us all safer. With specific categories like transportation, watching children, interacting with doctors, and taking and giving advice, the author addresses universal, daily situations in which people are exposed to potential harm. One might think it's another Silicon Valley cheer for technology, but not only does Casner think we're less safe today, he believes the helpfulness of our available tools has reached its peak ability to save us from ourselves. "In this book I will argue that we have come to the end of a really good run," he writes. "That we have wrung all of the big gains we're going to get from putting rubber corners on stuff and saying, Hey, don't do that.' Companies aren't going to rescue us from this quandary with new safety features." Instead, the author argues for a fundamental change in the perception of risk and our related behaviors. The risks he identifies in our injury-prone minds are delightfully simple, and he stresses the importance of paying attention, gauging risks, planning ahead, and looking out for each other. To illustrate his points, he uses real-life examples, from red light-running to the 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people. Although Casner employs a gentle sense of humor, the book's greatest strength is the author's encouragement of compassion for others in everyday life: "We sometimes miss the point that we're all in this together and we really are one another's greatest resource."A modest proposal for a fundamental change to help us not hurt one another. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.