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897 reviews for:
A Taste of Irrationality: Sample chapters from Predictably Irrational and Upside of Irrationality
Dan Ariely
3.97 AVERAGE
897 reviews for:
A Taste of Irrationality: Sample chapters from Predictably Irrational and Upside of Irrationality
Dan Ariely
3.97 AVERAGE
funny
informative
medium-paced
The experiments are interesting but I'd heard his TED talk a couple times so most of it was rehash. The pace was a bit slow and at times preachy. But interesting overall.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
A book that makes some interesting observations about the bad choices people (repeatedly) make. Maybe because much of the material is familiar to me, but I felt like this certainly could have been condensed, although I certainly took away a few interesting tidbits. Recommended to me by a professor.
There's a lot of great information in this book. I will try to remember what I've learned here and be a more rational consumer.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I read a lot of this type of nonfiction, and this book was decidedly middle-of-the-road. Ariely spends the book illustrating the various ways that humans are "predictably irrational"; that is, we act in ways contrary to what traditional economics would predict from rational beings, but in ways that fall consistently along the same irrational lines. It is, of course, not Ariely's fault that I was already familiar with most of the studies he detailed besides his own, but I was frustrated by the surface-level discussions and interpretations of most studies; Ariely seems to believe that by simply understanding each of the ways in which we're irrational, we can act more rationally in the future. He proposes simplistic and impractical solutions at times (like rotating who pays for an entire meal each time you're out with friends) that take into account some aspects of psychology while utterly ignoring others.
While I think Ariely does a good job of introducing people to this topic who are not familiar with psychology or behavioral economics at all, I would instead recommend Thinking, Fast and Slow for a deep understanding of the ways -- and reasons why -- we act irrationally, and Nudge for an exploration of practical ways to counteract our irrationality.
While I think Ariely does a good job of introducing people to this topic who are not familiar with psychology or behavioral economics at all, I would instead recommend Thinking, Fast and Slow for a deep understanding of the ways -- and reasons why -- we act irrationally, and Nudge for an exploration of practical ways to counteract our irrationality.
I'm always fascinated by information on the unusual ways in which our minds work. This is a great example. The author is a professor of psychology and behavioral economics, and talks about what he has learned from his experiments. I feel like I have heard many of the stories in podcasts and audiobooks - but that's just because of how powerful and interesting those stories are. For many, this is the source.
Learn about how to minimize pain when removing bandages. What makes people more likely to cheat or steal, and in what circumstances they won't. Why would manufacturers make high-end products they don't expect to sell? And much more.
Highly recommended. Very informative and interesting.
Learn about how to minimize pain when removing bandages. What makes people more likely to cheat or steal, and in what circumstances they won't. Why would manufacturers make high-end products they don't expect to sell? And much more.
Highly recommended. Very informative and interesting.
informative
medium-paced