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fbroom's review against another edition
4.0
Dan Ariely describes different experiments in this book to show how we are very irrational and can be influenced easily by the immediate environment. Each chapter describes a certain influence/force that can affect our behavior in different situations. I wish this book was shorter. Some interesting ideas but long and repetitive sometimes. (yet I’m giving it 4 stars because I haven’t read something similar to it)
One of the interesting ideas mentioned in chapter one is about how irrational we are when decide between three choices where two of them are easily comparable. Between Paris (P), Rome (R) and another Room trip with a free breakfast (R+), you would favor Rome with the free breakfast because you would unconsciously compare it to the other Rome trip.
In another experiment from chapter two, students were asked to write the last two digits of their social security numbers on a sheet and then write whether they were willing to pay that number for some items listed in the sheet. After that students were asked to bid on those items. Students with a higher social security number bid higher.
More ideas in the book revolved around how how free cost more, the high price of ownership (over valuing objects only when we own them), how dealing with cash can make us more honest, and more. I would read more books by the same author. Definitely entertaining.
One of the interesting ideas mentioned in chapter one is about how irrational we are when decide between three choices where two of them are easily comparable. Between Paris (P), Rome (R) and another Room trip with a free breakfast (R+), you would favor Rome with the free breakfast because you would unconsciously compare it to the other Rome trip.
In another experiment from chapter two, students were asked to write the last two digits of their social security numbers on a sheet and then write whether they were willing to pay that number for some items listed in the sheet. After that students were asked to bid on those items. Students with a higher social security number bid higher.
More ideas in the book revolved around how how free cost more, the high price of ownership (over valuing objects only when we own them), how dealing with cash can make us more honest, and more. I would read more books by the same author. Definitely entertaining.
teokajlibroj's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible book bursting with interesting gems. Completely demolishes the economic myth of rational consumers (I'm an economics student so this is especially relevant to me). An easy and enjoyable read
armag88's review against another edition
4.0
As the title suggests, a true eye-opener to the absurdity of our rationale in daily decision-making.
matig0's review against another edition
5.0
I read the book after watching Prof. Ariely and Prof. Kariv's debate in my college. Very interesting and makes you think about the daily decisions you take.
allairek's review against another edition
It makes sense that this was published during the time a lot of pop science/economic books were coming out. the author performs minor experiments with college students and make broad generalizations about what they mean. None of these ideas are revolutionary.
katieinca's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating stuff, and has me thinking about how to bribe/trick myself for my own good.
My only complaint is that this occasionally felt like the Cliff's Notes, and I wanted the grown up version.
My only complaint is that this occasionally felt like the Cliff's Notes, and I wanted the grown up version.
rebeccazh's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty decent book, easy to read and informative. I actually came away from this enjoying the author's writing style quite a lot. He's very funny and I think I would enjoy it if he wrote a short memoir of his life lol. A number of points here have been covered in other books in this genre.
alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting book. It was a fun premise to explore our irrational behavior because it is so often so predictable. It definitely makes you reflect on choices you make and why.
sksrenninger's review against another edition
4.0
Ariely was funny, and the book opened my eyes to some patterns of behavior that I hadn't noticed. It was surprisingly similar to The Social Animal by David Brooks in some ways, and there were a couple times when I felt like I was reading repeat material, but overall, it illuminated some new ideas in ways that made me laugh.