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rachelygr 's review for:
Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness
by Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein
I really enjoyed learning about the science behind the 'nudge' theory. The first about 1/3 of this book explains some interesting bits of human biology/psychology. This is where the book shined for me and will remain influential in how I think about my choices when I am the 'choice architect' and when I am making decisions. This bit and the examples based strongly in economics is 5 star writing for me. The book's downfall was where the authors became a bit too preachy and prescriptive in some of their later examples.
The absolute worst moment of this book is when the authors discuss the marriage example. Their prescription (this book was published in 2007) was for the term 'marriage' to become completely privatized and for the state to regulate some version of civil unions in order to 'compromise' between the LGBTQ community and religious groups. Obviously this is an unacceptable position for reasons that have been enumerated ad nauseam elsewhere. There should be an updated version of the book with this entire section removed and an apology made to the gay community.
Otherwise, I appreciate the science and the theory in this book. I agree with the majority of their applications and solutions but I cannot in good conscience rate this book a 4 or a 5 stars with an opinion which I see as implying there is somehow a common ground to be found between people who want to claim possession over the definition of marriage and the human rights of the LGBTQ community. No rating.
The absolute worst moment of this book is when the authors discuss the marriage example. Their prescription (this book was published in 2007) was for the term 'marriage' to become completely privatized and for the state to regulate some version of civil unions in order to 'compromise' between the LGBTQ community and religious groups. Obviously this is an unacceptable position for reasons that have been enumerated ad nauseam elsewhere. There should be an updated version of the book with this entire section removed and an apology made to the gay community.
Otherwise, I appreciate the science and the theory in this book. I agree with the majority of their applications and solutions but I cannot in good conscience rate this book a 4 or a 5 stars with an opinion which I see as implying there is somehow a common ground to be found between people who want to claim possession over the definition of marriage and the human rights of the LGBTQ community. No rating.