Predictably Irrational

The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

By: Dan Ariely

Narrated by: Simon Jones

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Why do our headaches persist after taking a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a 50-cent aspirin? Why does recalling the 10 Commandments reduce our tendency to lie, even when we couldn't possibly be caught? Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save 25 cents on a can of soup? Why do we go back for second helpings at the unlimited buffet, even when our stomachs are already full? And how did we ever start spending $4.15 on a cup of coffee when, just a few years ago, we used to pay less than a dollar?

When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we're in control. We think we're making smart, rational choices. But are we? In a series of illuminating, often surprising experiments, MIT behavioral economist Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. Blending everyday experience with groundbreaking research, Ariely explains how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible, seemingly illogical forces skew our reasoning abilities.

Not only do we make astonishingly simple mistakes every day, but we make the same types of mistakes, Ariely discovers. We consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate. We fail to understand the profound effects of our emotions on what we want, and we overvalue what we already own. Yet these misguided behaviors are neither random nor senseless. They're systematic and predictable - making us predictably irrational.

From drinking coffee to losing weight, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, Ariely explains how to break through these systematic patterns of thought to make better decisions. Predictably Irrational will change the way we interact with the world - one small decision at a time.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2008 Dan Ariely (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

How we really behave, not how we think we do.

Would you consider the audio edition of Predictably Irrational to be better than the print version?

My sight does not allow printed book reading. Audio books can be enjoyed while driving or where it is impractical to read. Well read, they really come to life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

A non fiction book so does not apply.

Have you listened to any of Simon Jones’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh a number of times. How we/people react and the explanations we give or use to particular events or circumstances.

Any additional comments?

Well worth reading if you want to understand yourself and others better.

Life changing introduction to behavioral economics

Would you listen to Predictably Irrational again? Why?

I have listened to this book multiple times. It is so full of great information.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Dan Ariely ties his personal experiences with his research to create a fascinating and compelling listen.

What does Simon Jones bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Simon Jones has a voice that is easy to listen to, but it is missing Dan Ariely's personality that comes across in his podcast and TED talks.

An Interesting New Field of Study

Loved the Book, which provided for me a new way for examining & studying Human Behaviors!

Good book, with interesting studies

A lot of the studies seem to based around a college campus, it would have been nice to get just a tiny bit more variety. I also wasn't a fan of the narrators voice in this particular audio book. Otherwise the facts are solid and the points very clear.

Great science!!!

The testing, analysts and suppositions in this book are truly amazing. Well done! Well researched! Well written! Worth the investment in time and money!!!

Great listen

One of my favorite books. The author , Dan Ariely, has always an eye opener to say. It is not very "scientifically deep" which matches my taste, if you are a professional psychologist you might find it shallow though :)

Eye-Opening!

We do not make fully rational decisions but after hearing this book we can try

Fantastic book

What made the experience of listening to Predictably Irrational the most enjoyable?

Who could ever think that it is possible to turn economics into such an interesting story! The writer has found a way to explain behavioural economics through the various experiments he has conducted. It is very interesting, insightful, useful and memorable.

What about Simon Jones’s performance did you like?

Simon is an excellent reader. He read the part about the writer's childhood pain with such insight, it felt as if he was the writer.

Very interesting: opened my eyes

Where does Predictably Irrational rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

How difficult to compare: all that I've read so far have been really good (I've been lucky). I first saw Ariely in a TED presentation and found his ideas really interesting. Because of the nature of the presentation I was left wanting more. The book didn't disappoint at all.

What other book might you compare Predictably Irrational to and why?

My first on Behavioural Economics so nothing to compare it against. I would say this though: I believe a lot of very smart people these days are advocating for something similar: go back to the search for an integral human being rather than the one sided, competitive, greedy, status and money seekers our current context advocates. Dan's book in this regard may be compared with Quiet (Susan Cain), The Power of Vulnerability (Brenee Brown), the three excellent books.

Have you listened to any of Simon Jones’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but the performance was superb.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, unfortunately my current timetable did not allow for that.

Any additional comments?

Really happy to have discovered Audible thanks to a friend. Now my being stuck in traffic and commuting have a completely different flavor to them.

An eyeopener

What did you love best about Predictably Irrational?

I like the way how the theory and the research are intertwined and how revealing and surprising the results were.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

If you could give Predictably Irrational a new subtitle, what would it be?

You are not who you think you are