A few days ago, I was visiting a new coffee shop in an unfamiliar neighborhood. In line to place my order, a polite stranger in front turned around, nodded at me, and said, "Hello." In that otherwise ...

Just as a night club magician uses sleight of hand to fool his audience, our brains play mischievous tricks on us—no top hat or wand required. The magic word is not “abracadabra,” or “alakazam,” ...