Look Again by Cass R. Sunstein: Your Complete Guide

Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There is a compelling non-fiction book co-authored by Cass R. Sunstein and neuroscientist Tali Sharot, published in 2023 by MIT Press. The book explores a deeply human phenomenon — habituation — and explains why we stop noticing the things that matter most to us, and more importantly, how we can start seeing them again. If you’re in Sri Lanka and want to pick up a copy, Look Again is available on bookshopnearme.lk with convenient island-wide delivery.

Key Takeaways

Look Again by Cass R. Sunstein and Tali Sharot explains how habituation — getting used to things — causes us to lose appreciation for what we have, and how to reverse it.
The book draws on neuroscience, psychology, and behavioural economics to show how our brains adapt to repeated stimuli, dulling both joy and outrage over time.
Practical strategies in the book help readers rediscover wonder in relationships, work, and everyday life by intentionally introducing variety and novelty.
Written in clear, accessible language, the book is equally useful for professionals, students, and anyone curious about human behaviour.
Sri Lankan readers can order Look Again online through bookshopnearme.lk with delivery across the island.

Detail	Information
Title	Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There
Authors	Cass R. Sunstein & Tali Sharot
Genre	Psychology / Behavioural Science / Self-Help / Non-Fiction
Publisher	MIT Press
Published	March 7, 2023
Pages	Approximately 224
ISBN-13	978-0262047951
Format	Hardcover / Paperback

What is “Look Again” about?

Look Again is fundamentally about habituation — the brain’s natural tendency to stop noticing things that become familiar — and what we can do to break free from it.

We’ve all experienced this. You move into a new home and love everything about it. Six months later, you barely notice the view from the window. You start a new job excited about every challenge. Two years in, the work feels routine. Your relationship once felt electric. Now it just feels… normal. This isn’t a personal failing — it’s neuroscience.

Sunstein and Sharot use decades of research across psychology, neuroscience, and behavioural economics to explain exactly why this happens. The brain is wired for efficiency. Once it recognises a pattern as safe and familiar, it reduces the mental energy it spends processing it. This makes us less reactive — which is sometimes useful — but it also robs us of joy, wonder, and even moral awareness.

The book is divided into two parts. The first half digs into the science of habituation: how it works in the brain, how it affects our emotions and decision-making, and why even the worst situations can feel tolerable once we’ve lived with them long enough. This has real implications — it explains why people stay in bad jobs, unhealthy relationships, or broken systems without raising an alarm.

The second half is where things get genuinely exciting. Sunstein and Sharot offer concrete, science-backed strategies to counteract habituation. These include deliberately introducing interruptions or “dishabituation” — taking breaks from good things so you can appreciate them again, or varying your environment to force fresh perception.

What makes this book particularly rich is that it also explores the social and political dimensions of habituation. Societies can habituate to injustice, inequality, or environmental destruction. When we stop noticing problems, we stop fixing them. Look Again argues that cultivating fresh eyes is not just a personal skill — it’s a civic and moral responsibility.

Who is Cass R. Sunstein?

Cass R. Sunstein is one of the most widely cited legal scholars in the world and a leading thinker in behavioural economics and public policy.

He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School, where he has taught for decades. His work spans constitutional law, administrative law, behavioural science, and the psychology of decision-making. He served as Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2012 — a role that allowed him to apply behavioural insights directly to government policy.

Sunstein is perhaps best known internationally for co-authoring Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness with Nobel laureate Richard Thaler. That book, published in 2008, popularised the concept of “nudge theory” — the idea that small environmental changes can guide people toward better decisions without restricting their freedom. Nudge influenced policy in the United States, United Kingdom, and many other countries.

He has written more than 50 books on topics ranging from free speech and democracy to risk regulation and behavioural law. His writing is known for being intellectually rigorous yet readable — a quality that carries through clearly in Look Again.

You can explore more of his work on the Cass R. Sunstein author page on bookshopnearme.lk.

His co-author on Look Again, Tali Sharot, is a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London and MIT. She is the author of The Optimism Bias and The Influential Mind. Together, Sunstein and Sharot bring a rare combination of legal scholarship, behavioural economics, and neuroscience to this project — which is part of what makes Look Again so compelling.

What makes “Look Again” worth reading?

Look Again stands out because it takes a common human experience — taking things for granted — and explains it with scientific precision while offering genuinely practical advice.

Here’s what makes the book particularly worth your time:

It answers a question you’ve always had. Why do we stop appreciating good things? Why do bad things eventually feel “normal”? The book answers these questions using real research, not guesswork.
It has real-life applications. Whether you want to improve your relationships, find more satisfaction at work, or simply feel more present in your daily life, the strategies in this book translate directly into action.
It’s short and readable. At around 224 pages, Look Again is a focused, efficient read. Sunstein and Sharot don’t pad it with unnecessary case studies or repetitive examples. Each chapter earns its place.
It broadens beyond personal development. The book doesn’t stop at individual well-being. It examines how habituation affects organisations, governments, and entire societies — making it relevant to anyone interested in leadership, policy, or social change.
The science is solid. The authors cite genuine studies and explain research findings in plain language. You get the depth of an academic book without the impenetrable jargon.

For Sri Lankan readers — students, professionals, teachers, or anyone navigating the busyness of daily life — this book offers a fresh lens through which to see the world. In a rapidly changing country where many things are taken for granted, the reminder to “look again” feels especially timely.

Who should read this book?

Look Again is a book for anyone who has ever felt stuck in routine, disconnected from something they once loved, or frustrated that the world seems to stop caring about important problems.

More specifically, here’s who will get the most out of it:

Professionals and managers who want to understand why teams lose motivation and how to reinvigorate energy and focus at work.
Students and university students studying psychology, behavioural science, law, public policy, marketing, or sociology — this book is directly relevant to all of these fields.
Teachers and educators looking to understand why students disengage and how to redesign learning experiences to stay fresh and engaging.
Anyone in a long-term relationship who wants to understand the science behind familiarity and how to keep appreciation alive.
Readers interested in social change who want to understand why societies habituate to injustice — and how to disrupt that pattern.
General non-fiction readers who enjoy books like Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Nudge by Thaler and Sunstein, or Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Gift buyers — this is an excellent gift for someone intellectually curious, a graduating student, or a professional who appreciates books that challenge how they think.

The language is clear and jargon-free, making it accessible to readers aged 16 and above. It doesn’t require any background in neuroscience or psychology to enjoy and understand.

Books similar to “Look Again”

If Look Again appeals to you, here are some other titles and reads worth exploring — across a range of genres, all available through bookshopnearme.lk.

For readers drawn to stories of resilience, fresh perspective, and seeing the world differently through narrative, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is a powerful historical novel that forces both its characters and its readers to look again at courage, sacrifice, and what we overlook in ordinary lives. It’s a deeply emotional companion to the intellectual journey that Look Again offers.

If you enjoy books that explore memory, identity, and the hidden dimensions of a life, The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. is a richly layered historical fiction read that rewards close attention — much as Sunstein asks us to pay closer attention to the world around us.

For something that blends science and emotional intelligence in a more playful, contemporary way, Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood is a fun, neuroscience-infused romance that explores perception, bias, and the stories we tell ourselves about other people — themes that resonate well with the ideas in Look Again.

And for readers who appreciate epic storytelling that reveals layers of human nature over time, Mahabharata: Stories of Valor and Virtue offers a classic lens on recurring human patterns — honour, blindness, duty — that echo the book’s themes of what we notice and what we choose to ignore.

Whether you’re in the mood for science, fiction, or timeless storytelling, there’s always another book waiting to shift your perspective.

Where can I buy “Look Again” in Sri Lanka?

You can buy Look Again by Cass R. Sunstein and Tali Sharot in Sri Lanka through bookshopnearme.lk, which offers island-wide delivery to Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, Negombo, and all other cities and towns across the country.

Ordering online is simple:

Visit the Look Again product page on bookshopnearme.lk.
Add the book to your cart.
Choose your preferred delivery option at checkout.
Complete your payment and wait for your book to arrive at your door.

bookshopnearme.lk is a trusted Sri Lankan online bookstore dedicated to helping readers across the island discover and access a wide range of titles — from psychology and self-help to fiction, children’s books, and academic texts. Whether you’re buying for yourself or as a gift, the platform makes it easy to get quality books delivered quickly and reliably.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “Look Again” by Cass R. Sunstein about?

Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There is a book about habituation — the brain’s tendency to stop noticing familiar things — and how we can counteract it to rediscover appreciation, joy, and awareness in our personal lives, relationships, and society. It was co-written by Sunstein and neuroscientist Tali Sharot and published in 2023.

Who co-authored “Look Again” with Cass R. Sunstein?

Look Again was co-authored by Tali Sharot, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London and MIT. She is also the author of The Optimism Bias and The Influential Mind. Together, Sunstein and Sharot combine legal scholarship, behavioural economics, and brain science in this book.

Is “Look Again” a self-help book or an academic book?

It’s both — and neither entirely. Look Again is grounded in genuine academic research from neuroscience and psychology, but it’s written in plain, engaging language designed for a general audience. Think of it as an accessible science book with practical takeaways rather than a self-help manual or a dense academic text.

Is “Look Again” suitable for students and young readers in Sri Lanka?

Yes. The book is written in clear, accessible English and does not require any background in science or law. It is appropriate for readers aged 16 and above, and is particularly useful for university students studying psychology, law, marketing, or the social sciences. It also makes an excellent gift for a curious young adult.

How many pages is “Look Again” by Cass R. Sunstein?

Look Again is approximately 224 pages long, making it a concise and focused read that most readers can finish in a few sittings. It is published by MIT Press.

Can I get “Look Again” delivered anywhere in Sri Lanka?

Yes. bookshopnearme.lk offers island-wide delivery across Sri Lanka, including Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, Negombo, and beyond. You can order Look Again directly from the Look Again product page and have it delivered to your home or office.

What other books has Cass R. Sunstein written?

Cass R. Sunstein is a prolific author with over 50 books to his name. He is best known for co-authoring Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness with Nobel laureate Richard Thaler. His other works cover constitutional law, free speech, behavioural economics, and risk regulation. You can browse his titles on the Cass R. Sunstein author page on bookshopnearme.lk.

What is the main lesson from “Look Again”?

The core lesson is this: our brains habituate to both good and bad experiences, which means we stop appreciating the good and start tolerating the bad. By intentionally disrupting familiarity — through breaks, variety, and deliberate attention — we can recapture wonder, improve well-being, and make sharper, more engaged decisions in both our personal and professional lives.

Look Again is a book that does exactly what its title promises — it makes you reconsider things you thought you already understood. Whether you pick it up for the science, the philosophy, or the practical guidance, it’s a read that genuinely stays with you.

If you’re ready to see the world a little differently, order your copy of Look Again today from bookshopnearme.lk — with fast, reliable delivery to wherever you are in Sri Lanka.