Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
Ariely's experiments on relativity, anchoring, the cost of zero, social versus market norms, procrastination, ownership and the effect of expectations. It is the most entertaining introduction to behavioral economics. One of the studies on dishonesty has since been retracted for data problems; the rest of the catalog remains instructive.
Read it if…
you want a fun, experiment-based tour of your own irrationality.
Skip it if…
you want rigor; read it as illustration, not proof.
Three things you will actually use
- Relative comparisons drive choices; choose your comparisons.
- Free is not free; it distorts.
- Precommit to beat procrastination.
Do this first
Next purchase, ask what you are anchoring on and whether the anchor was set by the seller.
Our verdict
Entertaining and instructive, with one caveat.
Compare with other Mindset books
Factfulness
Hans Rosling with Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Ronnlund · Mindset
Hopeful, rigorous and clarifying.
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