Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Behavior Gap” as Want to Read:
The Behavior Gap
by
"It's not that we're dumb. We're wired to avoid pain and pursue pleasure and security. It feels right to sell when everyone around us is scared and buy when everyone feels great. It may feel right-but it's not rational."
-From The Behavior Gap
Why do we lose money? It's easy to blame the economy or the financial markets-but the real trouble lies in the decisions we make.
...moreGet A Copy
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
The Behavior Gap,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about The Behavior Gap
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of The Behavior Gap
I've been in the financial planning business for a quite some time and read just about everything in the industry, and The Behavior Gap is truly original thinking. Most of the books in the field are advice driven whereas this book is more about challenging your thinking about money. This forces you to think about challenging questions about how you deal with your finances.
This is a good book for both the consumer and the financial planner. I think a lot of financial advisors tend to get caught ...more
This is a good book for both the consumer and the financial planner. I think a lot of financial advisors tend to get caught ...more
a short book on mass mentality about money. different perspective to preaching frugality and goal based investing. nothing absolutely unique except for some interesting anecdote. fun leisurely read.
So often in sports, commentators will take note how an athlete is playing within him/herself. That's essentially the message I read in The Behavior Gap about dealing with (okay, for some even playing with) your money: Make decisions within yourself that fit your goals.
The book is refreshing in its straight-forward, conversational style; enlightening in its behavioral focus grounded in reality; and encouraging because of its "you-can-do-this" approach.
I've seen people get tied up in knots over ...more
The book is refreshing in its straight-forward, conversational style; enlightening in its behavioral focus grounded in reality; and encouraging because of its "you-can-do-this" approach.
I've seen people get tied up in knots over ...more
The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money is a personal finance book geared toward people with investments. At the moment we aren’t very heavily investing and we aren't skittish about investing in general, so I found myself saying “yeah, yeah, OK” a lot as I read. However, if you are nervous about the stock market, the book contains a lot of solid advice.
One helpful section offers advice on how to talk about money. Richards points out that often when we think we’re ...more
One helpful section offers advice on how to talk about money. Richards points out that often when we think we’re ...more
Jan 03, 2014
Casey Wheeler
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
business,
self-improvement
As a matter of disclosure I received this book as part of the 12 Books group with the expectation that I would participate in the discussion on Goodreads and post a review on that site, Amazon and my blog.
I found author Carl Richards book to be an easy to read and insightful. The chapters are concise and do not drift in to overkill on any of the subjects he discusses. The premise for the book is about being smarter with your money, but I found that it also translates into making useful life ...more
I found author Carl Richards book to be an easy to read and insightful. The chapters are concise and do not drift in to overkill on any of the subjects he discusses. The premise for the book is about being smarter with your money, but I found that it also translates into making useful life ...more
I wished the book was going to dig deeper into behavioral economics and why we behave the way we do. But it turned out to be a beginner's level mainstream book.
In chapter 4 he got philosophical and talked about how capitalistic societies evolved to pursue wealth and falsely equate wealth to happiness and success.
3-stars book, but chapter 4 was excellent and hence the 4 stars.
In chapter 4 he got philosophical and talked about how capitalistic societies evolved to pursue wealth and falsely equate wealth to happiness and success.
3-stars book, but chapter 4 was excellent and hence the 4 stars.
Apr 02, 2019
Sipho
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
personal-finance,
psychology
3.5 stars
This book is about how and why people typically make bad investment decisions. A very interesting read, as it doesn't fit neatly into the behavioural economics or personal finance genres but straddles both. Carl Richards won't tell you what to do with your money (as most books of this ilk would) but rather attempts to change how the reader thinks about money.
All in all, its a good read but not a 'must read'.
Key Takeaways
1. We Don’t Beat the Market, the Market Beats Us
• Aim for a ...more
This book is about how and why people typically make bad investment decisions. A very interesting read, as it doesn't fit neatly into the behavioural economics or personal finance genres but straddles both. Carl Richards won't tell you what to do with your money (as most books of this ilk would) but rather attempts to change how the reader thinks about money.
All in all, its a good read but not a 'must read'.
Key Takeaways
1. We Don’t Beat the Market, the Market Beats Us
• Aim for a ...more
Anecdotally (and to some degree, analytically) introduces the concept of a "behavior gap," which befalls all of us - frequently in our investments, we act on emotion rather than rationality, costing us incalculable amounts of money, time, anxiety, and freedom in the long run. Interesting graphics combined with a bit of wit and humor makes it extremely approachable, even for those without finance backgrounds.
Good advice but nothing real insightful.
Carl is a master at packing a punch with simple concepts. This is a must read for those looking to gain a self awareness of self-destructive tendencies in financial decision making.
Jan 19, 2014
Pam Burzynski
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Pam by:
12 books group
Shelves:
finance
I got a kick out of this book because Carl has it down pretty good. I believe I have made just about every mistake he spoke of in the Behavior Gap.
Got "Financial foundation" plans from more than one adviser, day traded in 2000+, bought high and sold low regularly, bought gold bouillon, bought a stock at a high and watched it go to zero, and the list goes on not only in financial matters, but life matters as well.
I read lots of finance books, Bogel, Bernstein, Malkiel, Buffet, the Gardners, ...more
Got "Financial foundation" plans from more than one adviser, day traded in 2000+, bought high and sold low regularly, bought gold bouillon, bought a stock at a high and watched it go to zero, and the list goes on not only in financial matters, but life matters as well.
I read lots of finance books, Bogel, Bernstein, Malkiel, Buffet, the Gardners, ...more
Jan 12, 2016
Sean Liu
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
all-time-favorites,
the-mind
This book is about money, but it's really about human psychology when we are at our most primal state—that is, when we're thinking about money.
When it comes to money, people are notoriously bad. We do things we KNOW are illogical and silly just because our brains are wired to tell us to do them (i.e. becoming interested in stocks when they become expensive [because they become expensive] and then selling off when they become dirt cheap). The media knows this and everyone and their dog claims to ...more
When it comes to money, people are notoriously bad. We do things we KNOW are illogical and silly just because our brains are wired to tell us to do them (i.e. becoming interested in stocks when they become expensive [because they become expensive] and then selling off when they become dirt cheap). The media knows this and everyone and their dog claims to ...more
A quick easy read about reducing your fears about money and trying to make realistic choices about your financial situation. It's a pretty slim book and there's not a lot of meat - just general common sense advice, and a lot of napkin doodles, but it's a good starting place.
Skimmed. The research data behind some of the choices and behaviors that we make regarding money was interesting. The general pointers were not really new information.
This isn't an exciting book -- and that's the point. Richards' main point to get across to readers is that there's no magic wand, there's no shortcut, there's no one perfect tip from a broker or CNBC or The Economist or your brother-in-law that's going to get you rich. And that's OK.
Instead, this slim volume is designed to tell those who don't, deep-down, already know the foregoing, and to remind the rest of us who do know, and he digs into a layman's (not a therapist's) approach to the ...more
Instead, this slim volume is designed to tell those who don't, deep-down, already know the foregoing, and to remind the rest of us who do know, and he digs into a layman's (not a therapist's) approach to the ...more
Mind
Mind your behavior.
This is what this book wants to tell you, this is what the author wants to tell you.
Carl has written about human behavior when it comes to financial planning, investing, trading, shorting the stocks, going long and how it affects, how it benefits. He has written some useful and important things that we should mind whenever we're trading.
There are many things that you need to forego in the short term to achieve your long-term plan.
Carl, again and again, insists on investing ...more
Mind your behavior.
This is what this book wants to tell you, this is what the author wants to tell you.
Carl has written about human behavior when it comes to financial planning, investing, trading, shorting the stocks, going long and how it affects, how it benefits. He has written some useful and important things that we should mind whenever we're trading.
There are many things that you need to forego in the short term to achieve your long-term plan.
Carl, again and again, insists on investing ...more
I listened to the audiobook through my library and found the book interesting. Not having read much of a description, it wasn't quite what I expected, but the author made some good points about people's behavior around their finances. He also makes some really good points about the lack of value of paying close attention to the stock market (for most of us) and how so many act based on emotion and what others are doing rather than using their goals to guide their decisions. While I know that we
...more
3.5 stars. This short book (>200 pages) is a very fast read, and speeds along even more quickly due to the high number of illustrations/napkin diagrams. Richards focuses mostly on investing as opposed to other aspects of personal finance such as such saving money or paying off debt. I wish he had gone deeper into the research; as it stands now, the book stays pretty surface level and reads like a collection of conversation advice from your neighbor (granted, a neighbor who has spent decades
...more
Useful for non investors, novices or those who haven't paid much attention to the importance of behaviourial finance. I think about these things a lot but nevertheless it's always good to be reminded of numerous investing pitfalls. Richards places a lot of emphasis on understanding each individuals personal conditions and the investment journey that's relevant for them. It's a critical point that every individual probably needs to grapple with (both advanced, novice and all investors in
...more
Oftentimes the simplest advice is the most effective if taken to mind and put into practice. But, of course, it takes coming across the advice in the first place for one to even have the ability to take the first steps in making mental shifts that adhere to that advice.
'The Behavior Gap' is a sage. The simple (yet not necessarily easy) lessons therein will seem elementary to some, yet most - if people are mindfully open to Mr. Richards's words - will notice the door to sound financial behaviors ...more
'The Behavior Gap' is a sage. The simple (yet not necessarily easy) lessons therein will seem elementary to some, yet most - if people are mindfully open to Mr. Richards's words - will notice the door to sound financial behaviors ...more
TLDR - A financial planner trying to explain human behaviour regarding money.
The irony - Carl writes about avoiding advice from unsubstantiated sources e.g. the brother in law who has a hot stock tip, and yet if you want to know about human behaviour, you should really source that information from psychologist rather than certified financial planner. (Alternatively, try reading 'You are not so smart' by David McRaney, who, although not a psychologist, actually compiles and lists a bibliography ...more
The irony - Carl writes about avoiding advice from unsubstantiated sources e.g. the brother in law who has a hot stock tip, and yet if you want to know about human behaviour, you should really source that information from psychologist rather than certified financial planner. (Alternatively, try reading 'You are not so smart' by David McRaney, who, although not a psychologist, actually compiles and lists a bibliography ...more
I finished this book over a weekend. I am a reasonably fast reader. However, it takes time to read non-fiction surely. So, by that standards, this book is much easier to read and is written with ease. Carl Richards has simplified some of the things about investing and personal finance and has cleverly applied it to most things we know (or not) about life.
I find the concepts simple, refreshing as reminders and are a great way to actually take that to think about choices and decisions about ...more
I find the concepts simple, refreshing as reminders and are a great way to actually take that to think about choices and decisions about ...more
An interesting read. I was looking for a book more geared towards buying and spending habits rather than stock investments. The last few chapters hit on some of this, but it felt like a winding road to get there. I wish he would have given better real life examples -- most seemed only half thought out. This book is memorable though -- his biggest advice is not to trust "experts" completely, as they often have different motivations than you. He is an expert, so by the end, he's telling you not to
...more
"Simple, but not easy" describes so many good financial decisions. In theory, it's not hard to avoid selling when the stock market tanks, or to save more money every month - but there is a huge gap between our knowledge and behavior. Correcting this gap is more important than getting the exact right balance between international and domestic stocks, or scavenging for a savings account that pays 2.5 instead of 1.5%. This was a quick and easy read and the sketches are helpful. Nothing new if you
...more
Read it in a single day. It was that compelling. Carl Richards is a straight shooter without the lazy crutch of excessive harshness. He's realistic and holds his reader accountable in a way that feels actionable. There are few things I dislike more than being coddled when receiving meaningful guidance. Richards does nothing of the sort. He talks to the reader like they are an adult capable of making adult decisions, managing their own behavior, and recognizing the role they play in their own
...more
May be one of the best and simple, easy to understand books on financial planning I have read till date. Loved it for the pure loads of common Sense in finance given in an anecdotal and with diagrams on paper napkins.
I would recommend this book to you, if you want to know the broad guidelines of financial planning and know your blindspots.
Easy to read and style of writing is light but on point.
Loved it.
I would recommend this book to you, if you want to know the broad guidelines of financial planning and know your blindspots.
Easy to read and style of writing is light but on point.
Loved it.
Humorous, with some solid advice for how to start thinking about financing (as opposed to offering a step-by-step guide or follow-along plan). Some might find some of things he says somewhat offensive, but you don't have to like everything he says to get something good out of it. I think it's a good place to start changing your attitude toward your finances; then read some more to get a feel for what might work for you plan-wise.
Not really worth your time. Short book that could have been shorter for an introductory book. 1) invest smart 2) buy low, sell high 3) Better to hold stocks instead of trading 4) don't expect to find the next Apple. 5) We have heuristics, or rules of thumb we follow, usually without thinking about them and without reason.
I was hoping this would go deeper into behavioral finance. There are better books on that topic.
I was hoping this would go deeper into behavioral finance. There are better books on that topic.
Understanding yourself as a part of humanity and why we pursue the actions we do on a daily basis is a vital tool to create the life that you want. Life,in its simplest form, is a series of decisions and behaviors all of which you can control. The Behavior Gap gives detailed insight into what helps create these "gaps" between what we actually do and what we should be doing to achieve our goals and objectives. A pretty good read, well put together.
Nice take on the behavior side of money.
Personal finance is more personal than finance. Our relationship with money is a function of our upbringing, hopes, dreams, fears and demons. This book solidly lays out the behaviors preventing you from being financially secure. As a financial coach myself, this is the (unsatisfying) approach I take to helping others with their finances. This book gave me an arsenal of new tools for deeper money conversations.
Personal finance is more personal than finance. Our relationship with money is a function of our upbringing, hopes, dreams, fears and demons. This book solidly lays out the behaviors preventing you from being financially secure. As a financial coach myself, this is the (unsatisfying) approach I take to helping others with their finances. This book gave me an arsenal of new tools for deeper money conversations.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Books - Author...: The Behavior Gap - Official January Discussion | 41 | 50 | Jan 29, 2014 01:49PM |
Readers also enjoyed
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“But in the end, financial decisions aren’t about getting rich. They’re about getting what you want—getting happy.”
—
5 likes
“whatever you have to do to gain self-knowledge, do it. Find out who you are and what you want. Then you can stop wasting your life energy and your money on stuff that doesn’t matter to you—and start making financial decisions that will get you to your true goals.”
—
1 likes
More quotes…
