In an account chock full of real-world examples reinforced by experimental research Hood s marvelous book is an important contribution to the psychological literature that is revealing the actuality of our very irrational human nature. -- Science In the vein of Malcolm Gladwell s Blink Mary Roach s Spook and Dan Ariely s Predictably Irrational The Science of Superstition uses hard science to explain pervasive irrational beliefs and behaviors: from the superstitious rituals of sports stars to the depreciated value of houses where murders were committed to the adoration of Elvis.