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A review by kimball_hansen
The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home by Dan Ariely
5.0
Great book! Finally, another 5 star. I haven't had too many lately. This one reminded me a lot of [b:The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves|7776209|The Rational Optimist How Prosperity Evolves|Matt Ridley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347664546l/7776209._SY75_.jpg|10684114]. I've read a few of Dan's books and I really like how he gives personal experiences. His burn experiences sounds so awful, especially when the doctor had to cut his arm open.
Ugh.
But it's neat how his burn injury has helped him to find more meaning in life as well as focus his research on it.
Dang, I don't have the bonus PDF. That would have been helpful.
Notes:
For Americans what we do for work is an integral part of our identity. I remember my dad noting that the indians (feather not dot) weren't like that when he would talk with them.
Much of what we do is driven by ego-motivations that link our effort to the meaning that we hope others will find. Without an audience we have very little motivation to do what we do. The perfect example is the blog. It's the hope and illusion that someone else will read it.
Most of us would rather favor short term experiences rather than long term objectives.
Those who stand to earn the most demonstrate the lowest level of performance.
Yeah, I hate the idea of the people (CEO's Executives, etc) at the top. Not only are their salaries way bigger than everyone else, but they need more motivation and payment to work. They have to get bribed to do their job, essentially.
When public speaking, the presence of an audience can amplify emotional memory. That's why people cry when giving personal experiences in public.
The division of labor is great for creating local efficiencies. Each person becomes better and better at the small thing he does. But this exacts a human cost. Employees can't see the bigger picture, purpose, and sense of completion. This is why I hated working at Plano because I was just a cog doing a specific task and that was it.
The need to complete goals runs deep in human nature. It also runs deep in me like the roots from the trees in Fangorn Forest.
When we build something we view it with our loving eyes.
Playing hard to get is so valuable in dating because they value you even more when they finally get you.
Effort creates long term satisfaction.
People like to think an idea is their own. And we think it is better because we made it. If you have your kids plant vegetables in a garden they will actually eat the vegetables. Note to all you parents.
Revenge is one of the deepest seeded instincts we have. I wonder if that's why forgiveness is so stressed in Church.
That's neat that Vanderbilt regained control of his first company and took matters into his own hands.
I didn't know that Shrek was based off of the guy who founded DreamWorks and his revenge against Disney and making fun of their fairy tale movies and Lord Farqwad is the CEO of Disney. Michael Isner.
We are more resilient than we think we are when it comes to a broken heart.
Interruptions make things worse (when you're doing an undesirable task). It decreases your ability to adapt, making the experience seem worse when you have to return to it. Instead of taking a break as a relief from a chore, think of how much harder it will be to resume the activity after the break. But when you're going through a good activity or experience taking a break is actually more pleasurable, ironically, because you're prolonging it. This is why I don't mind to pause shows (Poldark, Kingdom) that I'm watching so I can prolong it, especially when there are only a few episodeys.
Slow down pleasure, when you buy a new couch, wait a few months before buying the television set after the thrill of the new couch wears off.
Dating is about experiencing something with another person in an environment that is a catalyst for the interaction.
When we can't see the small details, suffering is less emotional, less vivid, and we feel less compelled to act.
Ugh.
But it's neat how his burn injury has helped him to find more meaning in life as well as focus his research on it.
Dang, I don't have the bonus PDF. That would have been helpful.
Notes:
For Americans what we do for work is an integral part of our identity. I remember my dad noting that the indians (feather not dot) weren't like that when he would talk with them.
Much of what we do is driven by ego-motivations that link our effort to the meaning that we hope others will find. Without an audience we have very little motivation to do what we do. The perfect example is the blog. It's the hope and illusion that someone else will read it.
Most of us would rather favor short term experiences rather than long term objectives.
Those who stand to earn the most demonstrate the lowest level of performance.
Yeah, I hate the idea of the people (CEO's Executives, etc) at the top. Not only are their salaries way bigger than everyone else, but they need more motivation and payment to work. They have to get bribed to do their job, essentially.
When public speaking, the presence of an audience can amplify emotional memory. That's why people cry when giving personal experiences in public.
The division of labor is great for creating local efficiencies. Each person becomes better and better at the small thing he does. But this exacts a human cost. Employees can't see the bigger picture, purpose, and sense of completion. This is why I hated working at Plano because I was just a cog doing a specific task and that was it.
The need to complete goals runs deep in human nature. It also runs deep in me like the roots from the trees in Fangorn Forest.
When we build something we view it with our loving eyes.
Playing hard to get is so valuable in dating because they value you even more when they finally get you.
Effort creates long term satisfaction.
People like to think an idea is their own. And we think it is better because we made it. If you have your kids plant vegetables in a garden they will actually eat the vegetables. Note to all you parents.
Revenge is one of the deepest seeded instincts we have. I wonder if that's why forgiveness is so stressed in Church.
That's neat that Vanderbilt regained control of his first company and took matters into his own hands.
I didn't know that Shrek was based off of the guy who founded DreamWorks and his revenge against Disney and making fun of their fairy tale movies and Lord Farqwad is the CEO of Disney. Michael Isner.
We are more resilient than we think we are when it comes to a broken heart.
Interruptions make things worse (when you're doing an undesirable task). It decreases your ability to adapt, making the experience seem worse when you have to return to it. Instead of taking a break as a relief from a chore, think of how much harder it will be to resume the activity after the break. But when you're going through a good activity or experience taking a break is actually more pleasurable, ironically, because you're prolonging it. This is why I don't mind to pause shows (Poldark, Kingdom) that I'm watching so I can prolong it, especially when there are only a few episodeys.
Slow down pleasure, when you buy a new couch, wait a few months before buying the television set after the thrill of the new couch wears off.
Dating is about experiencing something with another person in an environment that is a catalyst for the interaction.
When we can't see the small details, suffering is less emotional, less vivid, and we feel less compelled to act.