Predictably Irrational

The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

By: Dan Ariely

Narrated by: Simon Jones

The groundbreaking bestseller from iconic behavioral psychologist Dan Ariely, now the inspiration for the Fall 2023 NBC show The Irrational

“A marvelous book that is both thought provoking and highly entertaining, ranging from the power of placebos to the pleasures of Pepsi. Ariely unmasks the subtle but powerful tricks that our minds play on us, and shows us how we can prevent being fooled.” — Jerome Groopman, New York Times bestselling author of How Doctors Think

“Ariely is a genius at understanding human behavior: no economist does a better job of uncovering and explaining the hidden reasons for the weird ways we act, in the marketplace and out. Predictably Irrational will reshape the way you see the world, and yourself, for good.” — James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds

Why do our headaches persist after we take a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a fifty-cent aspirin? Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save twenty-five cents on a can of soup?

When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we're making smart, rational choices. But are we? In this revised and expanded edition of the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. From drinking coffee to losing weight, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, we consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate. Yet these misguided behaviors are neither random nor senseless. They're systematic and predictable—making us predictably irrational.

©2008 Dan Ariely; (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

A fun read but beware the liberal bias

I really enjoyed this book. Several times as Dan Ariely was setting up the test parameters, I would think that he was missing a key piece, but then he would further develop the test and include my concern. I found it to be personally enlightening (and personally frustrating, but that's personal).

I have one complaint. Dan Ariely is obviously a liberal, and also obviously a fan of government run programs, like national healthcare. At one point in the book, Dan has demonstrated, through scientific study that people are irrational. He then, without any scientific information, claims that because we are irrational, we need national healthcare. He took no steps to back the claim that the government is inherently more rational than we mere individuals. This particular issue was very short (like a paragraph, or even a single sentence) but it has forced me, when recommending the book to others, to clarify that he is a liberal and is pushing an agenda outside of his scientific evidence or study.

Eye opening

An excellent presentation. The author has not only identified a very complicated set of human behavior patterns but explained them in terms anyone could understand.

Wonderful!

Very informative book, which I highly recommend to everyone.

Predictably good

I've always hated statistics, just not my thing. Going through college i realized how much it's actually used against us.

This book uses statistics but in a way that pulls you in. He makes statements, and then roll right into the study that BACKS UP what he is saying.

I found this book interesting the whole way through and a little humor here and there helped also.

Great start into how and why we do some of the things we do.

Fun and thoughtful

This book offered some entertaining and enlightening studies into how people behave. It is certainly light-hearted, and a pleasant read. In response to people who considered it a series of anecdotes: that it may be, but they have a useful theme. The results offer a way to improve your interpersonal relations and personal behavior by placing less trust in your rationality when presented with temptation.

Since the presentation is so biographical, I found it a little distracting knowing that the author was Israeli and the narrator British; it caused a minor disconnect. However, the reading is quite good.