About Cognitive Biases Academy
Cognitive Biases Academy is a free, open educational project dedicated to helping people around the world understand how the human mind works — and where it quietly goes wrong.
Our brains rely on mental shortcuts to make sense of a complex world. Most of the time these shortcuts serve us well, but they also produce systematic errors in judgement known as cognitive biases. These biases shape the decisions we make about money, health, relationships, and politics, usually without us ever noticing.
We believe that learning to recognise these patterns is one of the most valuable skills a person can develop. Sharper thinking leads to better decisions, and multiplied across millions of people, those better decisions add up.
Our Mission
We are building the world's most comprehensive and genuinely free library of cognitive biases. Our goal is simple: to raise the quality of human reasoning globally by making knowledge about the mind available to everyone, in their own language, at no cost.
This is a social impact project first and foremost. There is no paywall and no premium tier, and you don't need an account to read anything.
Who's Behind It
Cognitive Biases Academy is a social impact venture funded by Volodymyr Zhukov, an entrepreneur and the founder of PEM. He backs it for one reason: he thinks the most serious threat we face isn't any single crisis but the slow erosion of how people reason, and that fixing that only counts if it reaches people everywhere, in the language they actually think in.
That is why the library exists in 66 languages rather than one. Clear reasoning shouldn't depend on being able to read English. Volodymyr funds this as long-term public infrastructure and keeps it free on purpose, because a world that thinks a little more clearly is worth paying for.
What We Offer
- 190+ cognitive biases documented in clear, evidence-informed articles.
- 66 languages, so that language is never a barrier to understanding your own mind.
- Practical guidance on how each bias shows up in everyday life and what you can do about it.
- A consistent format for every bias — a quick summary, examples, causes, consequences, and strategies for mitigation — so the material is easy to study and compare.
Who It's For
Everyone. Students and teachers, designers and engineers, managers and clinicians, writers and voters — anyone who makes decisions, which is to say all of us. Whether you are studying psychology formally or simply curious about why people (including you) do what they do, there is something here for you.
How We Work
Our content is researched from the academic literature on judgement and decision-making and written to be readable without a background in psychology. We review, expand, and translate the library continuously. Because this is a living project, we welcome corrections and contributions from readers around the world.
Get Involved
If you share our belief that clearer thinking can change the world, there are many ways to help — from spreading the word, to partnering with us, to supporting the project financially. Visit our Partners and Sponsorships pages to learn more, or simply start reading and share what you discover.
Thank you for being part of this mission.
