Why We Ask Why: The Science of Explanation and the Human Drive to Understand

An insightful look at the cognitive science of explanation, using science and stories to reveal surprising truths about how we make sense of ourselves and the world

Humans are explanation-seeking creatures. We wonder why there’s traffic, why a friend behaved a certain way, why the sky is blue, and—in moments of existential reflection—why we are here. Over the last twenty-five years, renowned cognitive scientist Tania Lombrozo has turned this explanation-seeking tendency back on itself to ask: Why do humans explain? What does explanation do for us? And, most important, how can we do it better?

In Why We Ask Why, Lombrozo takes readers on a journey into the depths of explanation, exploring the role that this fundamental cognitive process plays for each of us as we engage with others and the world around us. She reveals what makes some explanations more satisfying than others, why we seek simpler explanations (and whether we should), how explanations drive learning, and the role of explanations in creating meaning and igniting change. Along the way, she provides crucial tools to refine the craft of explanation—for ourselves, for others, and to build a better world.

Through scientific studies and lively stories, we come to appreciate that explanations aren’t simply facts that describe the past but also mental acts that decide the future. Astute, thought-provoking, and constantly surprising, Why We Ask Why is a book that offers explanations for questions you didn’t even know you had.

“Tania Lombrozo has for a very long time been one of my absolute favorite cognitive scientists. Now she's written one of my absolute favorite books! Winningly personal, beautifully written, and exquisitely crafted, Why We Ask Why is a whirlwind tour of the science of explanation, led by a guide who knows it as well as anyone.” - Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

“Why We Ask Why is an engrossing tour of our species’ cognitive superpower: the need to seek explanations. Lombrozo elegantly turns human curiosity back on itself, giving us a glimpse into how explanation drives everything from learning to meaning making. A delightful tour of how the mind works for anyone who’s ever wondered about their own desire to wonder.” - Laurie Santos, Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast