Title: Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
Author: Dan Ariely
First published February 19, 2008
247 pages, Hardcover
Rating: 4.12
Overview
Why do we sometimes make decisions that go against our best interests? Why do we consistently make the same types of mistakes?
In “Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions,” Dan Ariely uses groundbreaking research and everyday experiences to explain why we behave in fundamentally irrational ways. From overpaying for goods to procrastinating on important tasks, Ariely reveals how invisible forces like emotions and social norms skew our reasoning abilities.
But there’s hope. By understanding these systematic patterns of thought, we can break through and make better decisions in all aspects of life.
Ariely’s insightful and often surprising experiments will change the way you interact with the world, one small decision at a time.
About the Author
Dan Ariely is a renowned professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke University, and he’s also the head of the eRationality research group at the MIT Media Lab. He was once the Alfred P.
Sloan Professor of Behavioral Economics at MIT Sloan School of Management.
Ariely is a native of Israel but was born in New York. He served in the Israeli army, where he experienced a tragic accident that caused third-degree burns over 70% of his body.
Despite this setback, he went on to graduate from Tel Aviv University and earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in cognitive psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a Ph.D. in business from Duke University.
Ariely’s research focuses on uncovering and measuring how people make decisions. He tries to model the decision-making process and, in particular, the irrational decisions that we all make every day.
In 2008, Ariely published a book titled Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, which delves into the topic of irrational behavior. Some people have asked whether reading his book and understanding one’s irrational behaviors could have negative effects, such as defeating the benefits of a placebo.
Ariely’s response is that although there might be a short-term cost, there would likely be long-term benefits, and reading his book would not make a person worse off.
Editoral Review
In his book Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, Dan Ariely, a behavioral economist and professor at Duke University, explores the irrationality and biases that drive human decision-making. Published in 2008, the book quickly became a popular work in the genre of popular psychology due to its accessible writing style and insightful research.
The book is divided into chapters that cover various topics such as the power of expectations, the influence of emotions, and the role of social norms. Using a combination of experiments, anecdotes, and real-world examples, Ariely delves into the intricacies of why people make certain decisions and how they are often influenced by irrational factors.
He does so by drawing from his own experiences as a burn victim and applying his experiments to real-life circumstances. While Predictably Irrational is not a work of fiction, it does have a plot-like structure.
The chapters are carefully crafted to build upon each other, leading the reader towards the conclusion that human beings are not as rational as we like to believe. The characters of the book are not individual people, but rather the collective irrationality of millions that has shaped history and continues to shape the present.
One of the strengths of Ariely’s writing is his ability to explain complex concepts in a way that is easily understood by the general public. He is also able to blend humor with academic rigor, which makes the book an enjoyable read.
Though the books content is divided into separate features, it is highly accessible, which is important to reach a broad audience. Another strength of the book is its relevance to current events.
Ariely takes readers through the economic downturn of the late 2000s, explaining the irrational behavior that fueled the crisis. By doing so, he highlights the human tendency towards irrational behavior that can lead to disaster if not controlled.
One limitation of the book is that the authors experiments and research are often explained superficially. Some readers may feel that they would like to know more about the methodologies used and the limitations thereof.
In comparison to other works in popular psychology, Predictably Irrational stands out due to its engaging writing style and the real-life applications of Arielys research. When compared with similar works from the author, like The Honest Truth About Dishonesty and Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations, the recurrence of content and themes is often noticeable.
Overall, Predictably Irrational is a well-written, thought-provoking book that provides valuable insight into the hidden drivers of human behavior. Its relevance to current events adds to its value as a useful tool for readers seeking to understand why individuals and societies behave the way they do.
I recommend this work to anyone interested in delving deeper into human nature and seeking to improve their own decision-making processes. Therefore, the book deserves a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
