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bootman's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I’ve read on human behavior. I read a LOT of books on psychology, and Dan Ariely is one of my new favorites. He does and amazing job of building on ideas and explaining how results from studies can teach us quite a bit about a variety of situations
headrook's review against another edition
3.0
Too often great books are made merely good books by simply padding it with useless information. I'm sorry to say that this book is such a case. It certainly starts off strong from chapters 1–4, but from then on it peters off into obvious conclusions that have been rehashed over and over. To sum up, the mind can subconsciously influence our subjective experiences and judgements. How do our expectations, placebos, high prices, and so on affect our resulting experiences? I think you can guess the answers.
In contrast, the beginning chapters were fascinating in covering retailers' strategies in setting prices so that you are manipulated into buying the product with the highest markup. Also, the chapter on the value of social exchange versus market exchange was very insightful. Ariely's writing style makes the information both fun and interesting, it's too bad the book wasn't about nine chapters shorter.
In contrast, the beginning chapters were fascinating in covering retailers' strategies in setting prices so that you are manipulated into buying the product with the highest markup. Also, the chapter on the value of social exchange versus market exchange was very insightful. Ariely's writing style makes the information both fun and interesting, it's too bad the book wasn't about nine chapters shorter.
kimball_hansen's review against another edition
4.0
I really like this author, and the narrator he selects for his audiobooks does a terrific job as well. That's the only exception I'll give for a non-fiction author to not narrate his own audiobooks. Dang it, I don't have the PDF accompanying this book!!
Notes:
Most people don't know what they want unless they see it in context.
Marry someone who's wife's sister's husband earns less than you.
We should always question our route decisions because they can become habitual. Like getting the daily cup of coffee or a certain brand cell phone.
When you see something is for free, take a step back because you may be getting deceived.
The difference between 0 to 1 is much bigger than 1 to 2. Free allures most people. It's an ace in the hole.
When market norms enter our considerations the social norms depart. Offering a free service is more appealing than offering a reduced cost service.
I don't know if social norms are as valuable in the workplace that he says it is. His example of giving employees a gift worth x amount vs cash of the same amount. And he says the gift creates more loyalty. But I remember everyone at Plano complaining about gifts and wanted cash instead. Maybe that's the civil servant service type showing through.
When buying something from someone ask them their history about the product and that will help you gauge how much they will budge on the price based on their amount of emotional investment they have in it. Maybe if they are heavily invested you could transfer some of that to you as the purchaser and they would want you to have it at a reduced cost.
I like how people confide in him.
Why do we feel compelled to keep as many doors open as possible? This is one of my many flaws in life.
The shape of the wine glass doesn't make a bit of difference in a blind taste test. Dumb wine drinkers.
Dealing with cash makes you more honest. Much of the cheating is done one step removed from money. People won't straight up steal money but more so other things.
Notes:
Most people don't know what they want unless they see it in context.
Marry someone who's wife's sister's husband earns less than you.
We should always question our route decisions because they can become habitual. Like getting the daily cup of coffee or a certain brand cell phone.
When you see something is for free, take a step back because you may be getting deceived.
The difference between 0 to 1 is much bigger than 1 to 2. Free allures most people. It's an ace in the hole.
When market norms enter our considerations the social norms depart. Offering a free service is more appealing than offering a reduced cost service.
I don't know if social norms are as valuable in the workplace that he says it is. His example of giving employees a gift worth x amount vs cash of the same amount. And he says the gift creates more loyalty. But I remember everyone at Plano complaining about gifts and wanted cash instead. Maybe that's the civil servant service type showing through.
When buying something from someone ask them their history about the product and that will help you gauge how much they will budge on the price based on their amount of emotional investment they have in it. Maybe if they are heavily invested you could transfer some of that to you as the purchaser and they would want you to have it at a reduced cost.
I like how people confide in him.
Why do we feel compelled to keep as many doors open as possible? This is one of my many flaws in life.
The shape of the wine glass doesn't make a bit of difference in a blind taste test. Dumb wine drinkers.
Dealing with cash makes you more honest. Much of the cheating is done one step removed from money. People won't straight up steal money but more so other things.
jpcapili's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book about behavioral economics. It consists of simple experiments that help us answer some of the profound questions about why we behave and think the way we do. We make some mistakes in our decisions and we tend do it over and over. It is just the way our brains are wired. Our irrational behaviours are neither random nor senseless... they are systematic and predictable as explained in the book.
cari1268's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed Predictably Irrational. I didn't know that behavioral economics was a thing. I will keep an eye out for books on this topic as I find it fascinating. I hope that I am a smarter consumer after reading this book.
While the subject is interesting, I know a lot of props has to go to the author. Aierly was engaging and participated in a lot of studies with unexpected results. Humans can be quite stupid.
I know this book is one that will stick with me. Just the other day I found myself going out to dinner and explaining to my dinner mates how ordering out loud makes us more likely to order something that we don't like. I tried to convince my husband that we could order the same thing but to no avail.
I do have a few criticisms. Ariely sometimes gave problematic advice. I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or serious. The most egregious piece of advice had to be when he suggested finding a less attractive friend when going out. Studies show this will earn a person more dates but I sure would be sad if people engaged in such behavior. I hope people don't sit around thinking about if they're more or less attractive than their friends.
There was sexism and fat phobia in Predictably Irrational. Ariely sometimes came to overly sweeping conclusions or used anecdotal evidence. This was not a perfect read.
My last complaint is no fault of the author. This book is a little dated. I read blackberry and then had to look at the publication year-2008. The age shows a bit.
4 Stars
While the subject is interesting, I know a lot of props has to go to the author. Aierly was engaging and participated in a lot of studies with unexpected results. Humans can be quite stupid.
I know this book is one that will stick with me. Just the other day I found myself going out to dinner and explaining to my dinner mates how ordering out loud makes us more likely to order something that we don't like. I tried to convince my husband that we could order the same thing but to no avail.
I do have a few criticisms. Ariely sometimes gave problematic advice. I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or serious. The most egregious piece of advice had to be when he suggested finding a less attractive friend when going out. Studies show this will earn a person more dates but I sure would be sad if people engaged in such behavior. I hope people don't sit around thinking about if they're more or less attractive than their friends.
There was sexism and fat phobia in Predictably Irrational. Ariely sometimes came to overly sweeping conclusions or used anecdotal evidence. This was not a perfect read.
My last complaint is no fault of the author. This book is a little dated. I read blackberry and then had to look at the publication year-2008. The age shows a bit.
4 Stars
drillvoice's review against another edition
4.0
Some interesting and new ideas to complement other similar work. Pretty engaging and some interesting ideas around potential applications to public policy.
ccoelophysis's review against another edition
5.0
A psychologically helpful book, pointing to "the other guy" you don't want to be. Really fun & easy to read, especially when the author is first and foremost a scientist.