author
Joseph Jastrow
1863–1944
A pioneering psychologist who helped bring experimental psychology to a wider public, he became especially known for his work on perception, illusion, and the habits of everyday thinking. His writing often aimed to make science feel lively, practical, and accessible.
1 Audiobook
Fact and Fable in Psychology
by Joseph Jastrow
About the author
Born in Warsaw in 1863 and brought to the United States as a child, he grew up in Philadelphia and went on to study at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins. He became one of the early figures in American experimental psychology and spent much of his career at the University of Wisconsin, where he helped build the field as a serious academic discipline.
He is still remembered for work on perception and optical illusions, including the illusion that bears his name. Just as important, he wrote and lectured for general audiences, trying to show how easily the mind can be misled and why careful observation matters.
Alongside his laboratory work, he took a strong interest in popular questions about belief, error, and unusual claims, often arguing for a skeptical, evidence-based approach. That mix of scientific rigor and readable public writing helped make him an influential interpreter of psychology for ordinary readers.