Audrey's review
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
by Dan Ariely
Audrey's review
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
Audrey's review
rating:
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recommended for: anyone who wants to learn more about the American way of thinking.
Pleasantly enlightening view of "irrational" human behavior. The readability of something so intelligent and well done is reminiscent of Freakonomics, but this book has the added benefit of being applicable on a personal level. Every chapter/topic includes several well-done, clever, and page-turner-interesting human study experiments. But then he also offers little tips as to how that particular bit of irrationality may affect the reader's life. There is the Cost of Zero, where you learn that a rational being would proceed with caution at "free" items--I empathized with the example of leaving a conference/vendor site with a bunch of pens, fake brains, and other junk that you then have to decide whether to stuff it into your suitcase or trash at the hotel. The Cost of Social Norms, where you learn that contrary to what seems logical, money does not motivate people anywhere close to how social factors do. One cannot forget the Influence of Arousal chapter, quit...more
