Try free for 30 days

  • Alchemy

  • The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense
  • By: Rory Sutherland
  • Narrated by: Rory Sutherland
  • Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (152 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Alchemy cover art

Alchemy

By: Rory Sutherland
Narrated by: Rory Sutherland
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense, written by Rory Sutherland.

To be brilliant, you have to be irrational.

Why is Red Bull so popular - even though everyone hates the taste? Why do countdown boards on platforms take away the pain of train delays? And why do we prefer stripy toothpaste?

We think we are rational creatures. Economics and business rely on the assumption that we make logical decisions based on evidence.

But we aren’t, and we don’t.

In many crucial areas of our lives, reason plays a vanishingly small part. Instead we are driven by unconscious desires, which is why placebos are so powerful. We are drawn to the beautiful, the extravagant and the absurd - from lavish wedding invitations to tiny bottles of the latest fragrance. So if you want to influence people’s choices you have to bypass reason. The best ideas don’t make rational sense: they make you feel more than they make you think.

Rory Sutherland is the Ogilvy advertising legend whose TED Talks have been viewed nearly seven million times. In his first book he blends cutting-edge behavioural science, jaw-dropping stories and a touch of branding magic on his mission to turn us all into idea alchemists.

©2019 Rory Sutherland (P)2019 Random House Audiobooks

More from the same

What listeners say about Alchemy

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    130
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    115
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    110
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Rob
  • 02-09-2020

Alchemy, slow start then grabs your interest

Rory's dulcet tones introduces the reader to the concept that we live in a world endentured to the philosophy of logical explanations. This world view limits our ability to see the power of illogical thinking.
The book was recommended as an intelligent discussion on modern marketing and it ticks all the boxes.
It is not an academic presentation, rather it's more a relaxed chat around theme of marketing solutions that fly in the face of economic logic.
Of course, the intial part covers information that is fairly common knowledge on marketing, however the progression moves into personal motivation and behavioural psychology with plenty of case studies.
He finishes, as he began, with a plea for a wider perspective in our thinking.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful

Absolutely fascinating look into marketing and psychology. Some really interesting case studies. Narrated by the author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read for very marketer

Absolutely loved it; an excellent book on behavioural psycho-logic-ology. If you want to get closer to understanding how customers choose what they choose, it's a must read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

loved this book.

If you are in business or have a product or service you want to market for success this is a must read. A somewhat 'crusty' former advertising guru genius with a great sense of humor leads you through the realities and BS of modern marketing techniques and instead introduces the sensible quirk reality of the way people think when they are buying.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • SG
  • 10-08-2021

Recommended by this cold-hearted logician!

I'm very close to being a homo economicus, and I found this book to be enormously enlightening, which ought to mean that the rest of you will like it even more than I did.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Phenomenal!

Absolutely fantastic, recommended to all and especially readers who are fans of Nassim Taleb's Incerto series and general works. Enlightening and humourous, I only got half way through this before I went on a Rory Sutherland binge on YouTube.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I Just Keep Hitting Replay!

The combination of insights, stories and scientific references delivered with such a comforting voice has me using this book as my reference listen during my daily morning preparation ritual way after my initial read. The concepts and author have even been referenced in the most recent audiobook I am listening to which further validates this purchase. I am constantly using the information and knowledge provided in this book as a form of consulting therapy in many of my social and professional conversations.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely love this book

Highly recommend for anyone who is interested in human psychology and marketing to listen to this audiobook. I found this book very engaging and educational.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Mr Rory : Alchemy is the word...

Yes it is, In case you want to learn something casual, and complete---
you should follow the teaching from Mr. Rory. An intelligent man not from,
and as we know from the marketing conglomerate. Be humble and listen. Enough said.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing and refreshing

Take a different look at the decision making process. Some of the changes I have made have already paid off.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.