Sign-In
Cart
Knock on Wood!: The Psychology Behind Our Quirkiest Superstitions
Paperback
Series: Mindplay: The Psychology of Everyday Power
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Aug 18 2025
Pages: 114
Weight: 0.62
Height: 0.24 Width: 8.50 Depth: 11.00
Language: English
Why do we cross our fingers, avoid walking under ladders, or whisper knock on wood after saying something hopeful? Even in a modern world of science and logic, little rituals like these continue to shape our daily lives. We laugh at them, shrug them off, and sometimes do them without even thinking. But behind every quirky superstition lies something deeper: a glimpse into how the human brain works, how culture shapes belief, and how we cope with uncertainty.
In this fascinating and entertaining exploration, Ezra Thorne takes readers on a journey into the hidden psychology behind our most ordinary superstitions. Drawing on history, science, and culture, the book reveals why these rituals have survived for centuries and why they still hold power over us today.
Inside, you'll discover:
- Why our brains are hardwired to look for patterns-even when none exist.
- How rituals give us a sense of control in an unpredictable world.
- Why avoiding bad luck feels safer than chasing good fortune.
- The surprising role of culture, tradition, and social influence in keeping superstitions alive.
- How selective memory tricks us into believing that charms and rituals work.
- Why athletes, actors, students, and travelers turn to superstitions in high-pressure moments.
- The feel-good factor that makes even irrational rituals calming and confidence-boosting.
From ancient Egyptians and Roman rituals to modern-day sports stars with lucky socks, from black cats and spilled salt to lucky numbers in Asia, this book uncovers the quirky, global variety of superstitions and the universal psychological needs they fulfill. You'll meet cultures that fear certain numbers, families that pass down generational charms, and individuals who invent their own lucky objects or rituals to get through stressful times.
Superstitions may not hold up under scientific scrutiny, but they reveal something profoundly human. They connect us to each other, give meaning to random events, reduce anxiety, and offer comfort in times of uncertainty. Whether it's tossing a coin into a fountain, carrying a rabbit's foot, or whispering a quiet prayer before take-off, these rituals remind us that we are creatures of both logic and imagination.
With warmth, humor, and insight, Ezra Thorne explains how superstitions reflect our psychology and our culture. Rather than dismissing them as silly, he shows how they act as windows into memory, tradition, and the universal need to feel safe in a chaotic world.
By the end of this journey, you may still knock on wood or cross your fingers-but you'll do it with a new understanding of why these little quirks matter.
Knock on Wood! is for curious minds, psychology lovers, and anyone who has ever wondered why we cling to habits we know aren't logical. It's a celebration of the wonderfully odd ways humans try to make sense of life-and a reminder that even our quirks tell powerful stories about who we are.
Also from
Thorne, Ezra
The Myth and Meaning of the Hundred Monkeys: The psychology of sudden adoption
Thorne, Ezra
Paperback
Also in
Self-Help
Go-To Notebook with Mohawk Paper, Midnight Blue Blank: (Blank Notebooks, Simple Notebook, Blue Notebook)
Chronicle Books
Other
Go-To Notebook with Mohawk Paper, Brick Red Dotted: (Dotted Notebook, Notebook with Dots, Red Notebook)
Chronicle Books
Other
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
Brown, Brené
Paperback
The Craftivist Collective Handbook: Projects, Stories and Methods for Your Gentle Protests
Corbett, Sarah P.
Hardcover
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
Beattie, Melody
Paperback
How Do You Feel?: A Spectacular Compendium of Ideas, Interactive Games, Provocations, Tests, and Tricks That Explore the World of What You Feel and Wh
Hughes, Edgar Gerrard
Paperback
Conscious Crafts: Knitting: 20 Mindful Makes to Reconnect Head, Heart & Hands
Kludje, Sicgmone
Koranteng, Vanessa
Hardcover
The Healthy Deviant: A Rule Breaker's Guide to Being Healthy in an Unhealthy World
Gerasimo, Pilar
Paperback
Inspired: Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul
Richtel, Matt
Hardcover
1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round
Attenberg, Jami
Hardcover
Your Intuition Led You Here: Daily Rituals for Empowerment, Inner Knowing, and Magic
Naranjo, Alex
Vargas, Marlene
Hardcover
The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness [With CD]
Williams, Mark
Teasdale, John
Segal, Zindel
Paperback
Awakening the Chakras: The Seven Energy Centers in Your Daily Life
Weltevrede, Pieter
Daniels, Victor
Daniels, Kooch N.
Paperback
The Complete Guide to the Enneagram: A Modern Approach to Self-Discovery and Connecting Well with Others
MacKenzie, Sierra
Paperback
Worthy as You Are: Weed Out Unhealthy Beliefs and Nourish Your Authentic Self
Duriel, Durgadas Allon
Paperback
The Danish Way of Raising Teens: What the Happiest People in the World Know about Raising Confident, Healthy Teenagers with Character
Sandahl, Iben Dissing
Paperback
Unlocking the 7 Secret Powers of the Heart: A Practical Guide to Living in Trust and Love
Tubali, Shai
Paperback
Belief, Being, and Beyond: Your Journey to Questioning Ideas, Deconstructing Concepts & Healing from Harmful Belief Systems
Crow, Granddaughter
Paperback
The Power of Your Angels: 28 Days to Finding Your Path and Realizing Your Life's Dreams
Fallois, Isabelle
Paperback
Witch Wisdom for Magical Aging: Finding Your Power Through the Changing Seasons
Johnson, Cait
Paperback
Escribe El Guion de la Vida Que Quieres: Manifiesta Tus Sueños Con Tan Solo Lápiz Y Papel
Christyn, Royce
Paperback
Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick
Jen Sincero
Paperback
Creative Visualization: Using Imagery and Imagination for Self-Transformation
Shone, Ronald
Paperback
I Am That Girl: How to Speak Your Truth, Discover Your Purpose, and #bethatgirl
Jones, Alexis
Paperback
The Art of Communication: How to Be Authentic, Lead Others, and Create Strong Connections
Apps, Judy
Hardcover
Martial Arts Teaching Tales of Power and Paradox: Freeing the Mind, Focusing Chi, and Mastering the Self
Fauliot, Pascal
Paperback
Catastrofobia: La Verdad Detrás de Los Cambios de la Tierra En El Arribo de la Era de Luz
Clow, Barbara Hand
Paperback
Princes, Frogs & Ugly Sisters: The Healing Power of the Grimm Brothers' Tales
Hunter, Allan G.
Paperback
The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest
Buettner, Dan
Hardcover
London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth
Keefe, Patrick Radden
Hardcover
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking about
Robbins, Mel
Robbins, Sawyer
Hardcover
Discover Your Soul Template: 14 Steps for Awakening Integrated Intelligence
Anthony, Marcus T.
Paperback
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Gibson, Lindsay C.
Paperback
Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers
Harper, Faith G.
Paperback
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself
Lawson, Jenny
Hardcover
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Haidt, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Little Frog's Guide to Life: Love, Advice and Inspiration for Every Day from the Internet's Beloved Mushroom Frog
Eequay, Maybell
Hardcover
The Little Frog's Guide to Self-Care: Affirmations, Self-Love and Life Lessons According to the Internet's Beloved Mushroom Frog
Eequay, Maybell
Hardcover
Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
Hill, Napoleon
Paperback
Hbr's 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness, Updated and Expanded (Featuring How to Stop Worrying about What Other People Think of You by Michael Gervais)
Review, Harvard Business
Gervais, Michael
Duckworth, Angela L.
Paperback
As a Man Thinketh - the Original 1902 Classic (includes the Mastery of Destiny) (Reader's Library Classics)
Allen, James
Paperback
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
Kishimi, Ichiro
Koga, Fumitake
Paperback
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Pressfield, Steven
Paperback
How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Your Guide to Easy Investing, Building Wealth, and Creating the Wild, Beautiful Life You Want
Holden, Amanda
Hardcover
Take Breaks, Work Better: Measure Impact, Not Hours, and Transform Your Profitability
Briggs, John
Paperback
No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
Through Mom's Eyes: Simple Wisdom from Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans
Jones, Sheinelle
Hardcover
Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit
Brown, Brené
Hardcover
Don't Believe Everything You Think (Expanded Edition): Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning & End of Suffering
Nguyen, Joseph
Hardcover
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
McMillan, Ron
Patterson, Kerry
Grenny, Joseph
Paperback
Be Your Own Bestie: A No-Nonsense Guide to Changing the Way You Treat Yourself
Brown, Misha
Hardcover
Stop Letting Everything Affect You: How to break free from overthinking, emotional chaos, and self-sabotage.
Chidiac, Daniel
Paperback
Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being
Zomorodi, Manoush
Diaz, Keith
Hardcover
The Courage to Commit: Embrace the Radical Power of Sticking with Something
Johnson, Shawn
East, Andrew
Hardcover
Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity--One Step at a Time
Conley, Courtney
McDowell, Milica
Hardcover
Rewrite the Program: How to Stop Conforming, Start Exploring, and Find Fulfillment
Bowman, Eli
Paperback
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships
Rosenberg, Marshall B.
Paperback
Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts
Burkeman, Oliver
Paperback
Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
Johnson, Spencer
Hardcover
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Hanselman, Stephen
Holiday, Ryan
Hardcover
The Saved Effect: True Stories of Lives Reclaimed by People Who Were Willing to ACT
Newbury, Brad
Newbury, Kiera
Hardcover
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World
McRaven, William H.
Hardcover
Reparenting the Inner Child: The New Science of Our Oldest Wounds and How to Heal Them
Lepera, Nicole
Hardcover
The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything
Jezer-Morton, Kathryn
Hardcover
Are You Mad at Me?: How to Stop Focusing on What Others Think and Start Living for You
Josephson, Meg
Hardcover
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Manson, Mark
Hardcover
The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery: Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your Life
Warren MD W. Lee
Hardcover
Doing Small Things with Great Love: How Everyday Humanitarians Are Changing the World
Eubank, Sharon
Hardcover
Tarot for the Wild Soul: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Growth, Healing, and Grounding in the Present Moment
Mack, Lindsay
Hardcover
Burn the Haystack: Decode Dating, Torch the Duds, and Make Room for Men Who Matter
Young Phd, Jennie
Hardcover
The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition: Features a New Foreword and Brand-New Tools
Brown, Brené
Paperback
The Overthinker's Guide to Making Decisions: How to Make Decisions Without Losing Your Mind
Nguyen, Joseph
Hardcover
The Company We Keep: Friendship, Connection, and Redefining What It Means to Grow Together
Elle, Alexandra
Hardcover