Nudge: The Final Edition

Improving Decisions About Money, Health, and the Environment

By: Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

Since the original publication of Nudge more than a decade ago, the title has entered the vocabulary of businesspeople, policy makers, engaged citizens, and consumers everywhere. The book has given rise to more than 200 "nudge units" in governments around the world and countless groups of behavioral scientists in every part of the economy. It has taught us how to use thoughtful "choice architecture" - a concept the authors invented - to help us make better decisions for ourselves, our families, and our society. 

Now, the authors have rewritten the book from cover to cover, making use of their experiences in and out of government over the past dozen years as well as an explosion of new research in numerous academic disciplines. To commit themselves to never undertaking this daunting task again, they are calling this the "final edition". It offers a wealth of new insights, for both its avowed fans and newcomers to the field, about a wide variety of issues that we face in our daily lives - COVID-19, health, personal finance, retirement savings, credit card debt, home mortgages, medical care, organ donation, climate change, and "sludge" (paperwork and other nuisances we don't want and that keep us from getting what we do want) - all while honoring one of the cardinal rules of nudging: make it fun!   

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2008, 2009, 2021 Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein (P)2021 Gildan Media

Doesn’t include a Pdf of the images the book calls out

This needs an accompanying pdf for readers to get the full idea of what the book is talking about!

Libertarian Economics?

If the authors has left out their left wing politics on climate change they would have an excellent book; however, in the extended time spent on climate change they abandoned their libertarian view for left wing socialism, big government, taxes and wealth redistribution. Perhaps if had advocated for equal distribution of conservative faculty members and the abolishment of tenure they would have accomplished more than the tax and reward policies that smack of socialism not libertarian beliefs. Skip this book and read “Misbehaving” instead.

Bad Choice in Narrator

This guys has to put and inflection on every single sentence. Its very very annoying.

Nudge for good.

I know nudge for good is the tag line in the book, but it is also what I intend to do with what I have learned. I hope to be a better choice architect to make it easier for everyone who is affected by my decisions. Thank you.

This second and “final addition” is recommended…

For all who read it in 2009, it’s a must! For everyone else, but the damn book. It’s been considered as one of the most influential books of the past few decades— written by Nobel Laureates— and has much of the most up to date CREDIBLE arguments in the social and behavioral sciences.

It’s fantastic for the now because the majority of the content has been updated to this very moment— it has great insight into the Pandemic, todays politics, climate crisis and more!

You won’t be disappointed.

really great information a bit too long.

really good information although I think it had a bit of sludge I could have done without.

The narrator is amazing!

This narrator is absolutely fantastic! He conveys the humorous remarks, makes pauses in all the right places and he should go and narrate all the non-fiction books to make even the public policy on climate change bearable.

Insightful

I Enjoyed the book, excellent insights with very good exsamples. I can recommend this book to anyone with an intrest in economical science and behaviour.

political rambling sludge

book starts off well describing and talking about nudges, then turns into politics, then more politics and tries to be a persuasive paper, and caps off with a lot of whining. first 1/3 of the book is what I was expecting, but after that it is no longer educationally focused.

I enjoyed misbehaving, so possibly the politics had something to do with sunstein's style/views.

A worthwhile investment

Recommended for anyone wanting to understand choice architecture. Executives, managers and innovators would benefit best from engaging with this book.

A key text for Behavioural Science

Nudge is one of the classic texts in behavioural science, a must read for anyone interested/ learning about it. The book is informative, interestingly read, and easy to understand for anyone already familiar with the field.

The first two sections may be most useful, with the first addressing the characteristics of human behaviour that make nudging possible or necessary. The second section explores how to nudge, exploring concepts such as choice architecture. Those wanting to learn how to Nudge will get direct instruction here. Both sections are clear and informative, although comparatively brief to other texts such as Cialdini's Persuasion which devotes an entire book to the psychology covered here in a few one hour chapters.

Outside of these two sections, the book is mostly concerned with the ethics of nudging, and dealing with critical responses to the idea of nudging that have developed over the ~20 years since Nudge was first published.

The second half of the text focuses on two major economic issues that we all face: finance and climate change. Each gets a section of a few chapters that makes for an extended case study, drawing together the thinking and theory in the first two sections.

Throughout the text, the authors frequently take time to defend their positions, correct misconceptions, and address their critics. This sometimes feels irrelevant to those that support their notion of 'libertarian paternalism', however in doing so useful evidence and examples of 'good nudging' is given, exemplifying good practice, and communicating the essence of what good nudging is.

The performer adds some interesting flavour to the book through some choices of inflection. At times he sounds a bit like an irreverent, or irritated, student, but perhaps this is exactly how the authors feel having received both a Nobel prize and a tonne of criticism for their labours.

Not that rich in learning

Took me two days to finish this book.
It was not worth it. I'd rather read a summary in retrospect.
The book repetes the same two key words
1) Nudge: To influence x 'to do' y
2) Sludge: To influence x 'not to do' y

Excellent Book Excellent Narration

This is a very interesting and informative book surrounding behavioural economics. Other books tend to concentrate more on consumerism where as Nudge goes into the application of behavioural science in a wider context.

Fascinating

I found this book riveting, as to my knowledge it stands alone in its genre. The evidence for the social benefit that can be derived from ‘liberal paternalism’ (for all its tongue-in-cheek use) is compelling, and managers at all levels should consider some of the positive nudges, such as work pension scheme default options, to. E edit their employees.

I found Sean Pratt’s narration very easy to listen to, and his wry humour matches the authors’ style. Moreover, I was left with the impression that he himself understood the book and is bought into its tenets.

Much recommended!

Fairly Accademic

Some very interesting stories but overall much too long. same message repeated again and again .....and again. As per the author the book wasn't for the masses.

Nudge for good

Really enjoyed listening to this and the examples are so helpful for thinking about better design and policy. Thought the ‘slippery slope’ section was really helpful in helping to counter narratives against good choice architecture.

One of the things I’ve long suspected about life!

What a great listen! The authors were preaching to my choir I accept, however it’s nice to hear far more educated, experienced and eloquent people than me highlighting the benefits (to all) of making it easier to do the “right” thing. I’m not going to ramble on. Just give it a listen 🙂.

Marvellous book

Enlightening book on human behaviour. Particularly enjoyed this updated version.

I would enjoy sitting down to dinner with both authors; they have my sense of humour!

And, unlike a previous reviewer, I thought Sean Pratt narrated perfectly; spot on intonation and conveyed the authors’ points of view in an easy to listen manner.

One of my favourite non fiction listens!

Overall a good use of your credit

Interesting book with lots of interesting insights. Narrator doesn’t sound like a robot and text seemed to be narrated faithfully.

Disappointed Expected. So much more

What a disappointment. I had hoped for much more. Far too long and an indulgence in academia. The book would have been much better if they had got to the point and used more sophisticated examples of nudging. All rather predictable. Organ transplant insurance etc. The examples used in some cases were worrying quoting certain events as a fait acompli from an academic echo chamber riddled with confirmation bias . I feel while the authors said this is the final edition it will not be as some events and leaders quoted will necessitate an update.