Focuses on mistaken views of competence, and explores why people often remain blissfully unaware of their incompetence and personality flaws. This book also focuses on faulty views of character, and explores why people tend to perceive they are more unique and special than they really are. 'This is a superbly written volume illuminating a fundamentally significant human shortcoming, a curious inability to "know oneself" or gain true insights into the inner workings of one's mind. Provocative, entertaining, and compelling, this work represents experimental social psychology at its finest.' - Arie W. Kruglanski, University of Maryland 'People are often their own worst enemies. Nothing stands in the way of achieving our goals as much as our lack of insight into our own flaws, weaknesses, and shortcomings. This book is a must-read for people who aspire to achieve the self-knowledge that is essential to accomplishing their most cherished goals, or want to understand why others seem so blinded to their shortcomings. Dunning is an outstanding scientist and an entertaining writer. His explorations into failures of self-knowledge are a fascinating read.' - Jennifer Crocker, University of Michigan