Knowing That Everyone Else Knows

7 Nov 2025

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What do Super Bowl ads, crypto bubbles, toilet paper shortages, and negotiations have in common? According to Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, they all come down to a hidden force called common knowledge — what we know everyone else knows. In this episode of HBR IdeaCast, Pinker discusses his new book When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows and explains how common knowledge shapes money, power, leadership, and everyday life. From Apple’s famous “1984” ad to the psychology of dictatorships, discover how understanding this invisible force can change the way you lead, negotiate, and influence others. #stevenpinker #Psychology #Leadership #HBR #BusinessStrategy Books, tools, and more: store.hbr.org Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/ https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_review Sign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters #HarvardBusinessReview #YourCareer #Career #Job #Work #Business #Harvard #HarvardBusinessSchool Copyright © 2025 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved.

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