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The Predictably Irrational CD: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
The Predictably Irrational CD The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
Author: Dan Ariely
  • Why do our headaches persist after taking a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a 50-cent aspirin?
  • Why does recalling the Ten Commandments reduce our tendency to lie, even when we couldn't possibly be caught?
  • Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save twenty-five cents on a can of soup?...  more »
  • Why do we go back for second helpings at the unlimited buffet, even when our stomachs are already full?
  • And how did we ever start spending $4.15 on a cup of coffee when, just a few years ago, we used to pay less than a dollar?
When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we're in control. We think we're making smart, rational choices. But are we? In a series of illuminating, often surprising experiments, MIT behavioral economist Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. Blending everyday experience with groundbreaking research, Ariely explains how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible, seemingly illogical forces skew our reasoning abilities. Not only do we make astonishingly simple mistakes every day, but we make the same types of mistakes, Ariely discovers. We consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate. We fail to understand the profound effects of our emotions on what we want, and we overvalue what we already own. Yet these misguided behaviors are neither random nor senseless. They're systematic and predictable—making us predictably irrational. From drinking coffee to losing weight, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, Ariely explains how to break through these systematic patterns of thought to make better decisions. Predictably Irrational will change the way we interact with the world—one small decision at a time.
Audio Books swap for two (2) credits.
ISBN-13: 9780061457852
ISBN-10: 006145785X
Publication Date: 2/1/2008
Edition: Unabridged
Rating:
  • Currently 4.7/5 Stars.
 3
4.7 stars, based on 3 ratings
Publisher: HarperAudio
Book Type: Audio CD
Members Wishing: 5
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 reviewed The Predictably Irrational CD: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions on + 15 more book reviews
It is an excellent book. Keeps the attention entire time. Many topics for discussion with other people. Learned a lot about our irrational behavior.
fibrogal avatar reviewed The Predictably Irrational CD: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions on + 180 more book reviews
If you want to have a better understanding of why you and others do the things that you do and react the way that you do--then this book is for you! A really interesting discussion of the current understanding of human behavior on decision-making.


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