Puts science back into workplace analysis

books:

	• Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions Dan Ariely HarperCollins, 2008 - 304 pages average customer review:based on 156 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Preempting irrationality

Ariely's ideas are not new - much of the research documenting same findings can be traced back to the 1960's - but his presentation in the context of everyday life makes 'Predictably Irrational' a very worthwhile read. Amongst many other things, the author discusses: free is not really free, and why are we so afraid of making the wrong choice; role of decoys in pricing; social versus market norms, and the funny logic that decides between the two; our tendency to overvalue what we posses.

The list goes on, but the point is: entrepreneurs, managers, stay at home parents, and everyone else in between will find something that applies to their daily routine. The book is not about 'fixing' your irrationality, but rather, about becoming aware of our own, often illogical decisions, and coming up with a way to preempt these events.

for more information click here

Thought-provoking

I found the experiments fascinating.. Especially the Brad Pitt vs. George Clooney vs. Altered George Clooney experiment. Intriguing.

for more information click here

Puts science back into workplace analysis

I am an exec in a medium to large sized company and I found Dan's book engaging, accurate and useful to my business. Behaviorial ecconomics is the new black. There is too little science in modern marketing books which is why my colleagues and I are skeptical of their efficacy and prefer this genre. This book takes an analytical approach to a field prone to pseudo sciences and puts well reasoned arguments to questions of behavior in marketing. It is also a funny book, I would have loved to have been one of his students.

for more information click here

Insights you wish to share

What a fascinating book.

The book cover and pages were not welcoming, but after starting to read it felt like you are in a good place for conversation, and that it is well worth your time to listen.

For example:
1. Which friend to take with you to a party?
The answer: he'd better be similar but inferior in some aspect
(a -a b)
2. How our stand on issues is determined?
The answer: it is highly sensitive to inital conditions.

I take it with me even to the beach to share with friends the newly set or newly phrased insights to how we behave.

for more information click here

Jokey but insightful

Ariely studies the way we make decisions. And his "startling" conclusion is that, while we think we are rational, we make decisions for all sorts of irrational reasons.

Tada!

While some of the observations are no-brainers, the detailed mechanics of how we make decisions (when provided) can be very interesting. For example, he talks about how we have a hard time deciding between two different things (e.g., a colonial house and a modern one), but if we have three things to choose from, and one is a defective version of another (e.g., a colonial house, a colonial house with a leaking roof, and a modern one), we tend to have an easier time, choosing the thing that is not defective, but has a defective version (e.g., the intact colonial house). Also, in general, our sense of what things are worth can be dependent on an unrelated number we have in our head (a price anchor).

The book as a whole is conversational and jokey (irritatingly so, sometimes) but offers some interesting ideas to chew on.

A quick read.

for more information click here

reviews: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, page 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

hot

not?

What's your opinion?

Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

General Books on Economic Behaviour,Game Theory and Social Dynamics
Entrepreneurship Readings, biased towards the internet.
Decisions at Work. A Human Resources List
Hawkeye Management Book List
Creating Great Experiences

search for books
the hidden, decisions, forces, hidden, irrational, predictably, shape, that

Impressum / about us