Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #182 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-19
• Released on: 2008-02-19
• Format: Roughcut
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Irrational behavior is a part of human nature, but as MIT professor Ariely has discovered in 20 years of researching behavioral economics, people tend to behave irrationally in a predictable fashion. Drawing on psychology and economics, behavioral economics can show us why cautious people make poor decisions about sex when aroused, why patients get greater relief from a more expensive drug over its cheaper counterpart and why honest people may steal office supplies or communal food, but not money. According to Ariely, our understanding of economics, now based on the assumption of a rational subject, should, in fact, be based on our systematic, unsurprising irrationality. Ariely argues that greater understanding of previously ignored or misunderstood forces (emotions, relativity and social norms) that influence our economic behavior brings a variety of opportunities for reexamining individual motivation and consumer choice, as well as economic and educational policy. Ariely's intelligent, exuberant style and thought-provoking arguments make for a fascinating, eye-opening read. (Feb.)
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New York Times Book Review
"Sly and lucid. . . . PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL is a far more revolutionary book than its unthreatening manner lets on."

New York Times Book Review
"Sly and lucid. . . . PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL is a far more revolutionary book than its unthreatening manner lets on."

Customer Reviews

Insightful quick read
In this book, Dan Ariely describes some of the ways people act and react to various real life economic situations. He provides great insight into context of why we do some of the things we do and supports his conclusions with examples of some of the research he has performed with other researchers.

Incredibly well written and a quick read.

Great Read for Communicators
I found this to be a pleasant and thought-provoking book. I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the fundamental underpinnings of human behavior. All of Ariely's observations are research-based and are presented in an extremly accessible manner.

One chapter of the book struck me as particularly important for communicators. "The Cost of Social Norms" explores the benefits and the risks of creating a social versus a purely business relationship with customers.

Done well, the social approach develops longer-term deeper relationships between the customer and the business. The customer acts on a sense of connectedness in the business and sustains the relationship through continued interactions and transactions.

Done poorly, the social approach can create a break-up with all the animosity of a nasty divorce.

This one is staying on my bookshelf.

Amazing read!
This book suprised me with its deft mix of accessible reading and intelligent summary of research. The author's conclusions are easy to understand, easy to believe considering his research, and easy to apply to all sorts of areas of life. Applying his observations can improve a person, business, or a country economically, socially, and emotionally. You simply have to read this book to understand it. And it is well worth it.