46 pages 1 hour read

Dan Ariely

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape our Decisions

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely delves into the hidden forces influencing human decision-making through scientific experiments and anecdotes, revealing common irrational behaviors. People often misjudge value based on relativity, desire FREE! items irrationally, and experience conflicts between social and market norms. Emotional states and short-term thinking disrupt social norms and rational decisions. Expectations and public trust are other areas where individuals act predictably irrationally, but recognizing these patterns offers opportunities for personal improvement.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely explores the hidden forces influencing our decisions, providing engaging insights into behavioral economics. Readers appreciate the book's accessible writing and compelling experiments, though some criticize it for lacking depth in certain analyses. Overall, it's an enlightening and thought-provoking read on human irrationality.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Predictably Irrational?

A reader who appreciates Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely is often intrigued by behavioral economics and psychology. If you enjoyed Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers or Richard Thaler’s Nudge, you'll likely find Ariely’s exploration of the hidden forces shaping our decisions equally compelling.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Business / Economics

Psychology

Science / Nature

Themes

Identity: Mental Health

Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Society: Education

Genre

Social Science

Psychology

Philosophy