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

A fun book for a complicated subject

Subject may be an acquired taste, it is humorously delivered. Educational and well worth the listen.

everyday useful.

Marketing, sales, advertisement.

They're all coming after YOUR MONEY.

Educate yourself with elegant studies wrapped in entertaining delivery form or go find another audiobook.

makes sense

reading this book increased my understanding of myself amd people in general. It was both simple and profound.

More than got my money's worth!

I had already got my money's worth after 2 hours in. Absolutely awesome book.
Very important for everyone, but especially business owners.

I am predictably irrational

This is one of the best books I have read about things that influence our decision making. Why will we go out of our way to $7 on an item that costs $20 but not go out of our way to save that $7 on something that costs $200? How are influenced into choosing one of two choices by the introduction of a choice that we will not make? These observations and others are fascinating observations and psychological experiments that demonstrate how we think and act. Factors that influence our morality, cheating and decision making are presented in a way that hits home - I found my own behavior presented in almost every chapter. The author is a social psychologist that presents his concepts very clearly and in situations you will recognize. He follows ups his concepts by describing cleverly designed 'experiments' on students (typically from MIT). The experiments clearly demonstrate why choices are made in certain situations. This book is good not only for your own personal understanding of how decisions are made but should also be read by anyone who wishes to infuence how others make decisions. Great concepts for people in sales, marketing and business. If you like this genre, this is one of the best.

Insightful and Counter-Intuitive

What a wonderful book! I was amazed by the depth of research and the, sometimes amazing, discoveries. For years I've wondered why we often behave in ways that make no logical sense. Predictably Irrational addresses those behaviors, their triggers, how they become habits, and how they change. I heartily recommend this book.

-- Bryan Entzminger

Pretty Good

Some actually new thoughts that are interesting. Recommended.

Excellent read!

A great read for anyone who is a student of human behavior. Ariely's writings go much beyond theory and are imperically tested in fresh ways that provoke thought. The book is also well written and does not read like a dissertation. Highly recommended for people who find themselves asking 'why' alot.

Mind-bogglingly Interesting

I picked this on Audible as it was one of the best sellers. It kept me completely engrossed from the moment I started listening to it. I found it so interesting and thought-provoking that I had to listen to it all over again!

This is a book that makes you wonder if you really make rational choices in buying things, ordering food, etc. Dan Ariely uses many experiments involving normal day-to-day situations and unearths incredible outcomes. If you like books that are witty, entertaining and thought-provoking, then this one is for you.

Seeing through our unconscious biases

If you could sum up Predictably Irrational in three words, what would they be?

avoiding irrational bias

Any additional comments?

Traditional economic models are based on the assumption that consumers behave rationally, ie, act in their own self-interest. The author is a behavioral economist, and the book looks at many different situations and examples of ways in which consumers do not, in fact, act rationally. There are many unconscious factors and biases that influence our decisions, and the author steps through examples of them chapter by chapter, explaining what they are, how they cause us to act irrationally, and how to avoid falling into that trap. Very interesting reading with lots of applications both to personal life and business. Certainly recommended to anyone with any interest in why humans behave the way we do.