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Predictably Irrational

The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

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Predictably Irrational

By: Dan Ariely
Narrated by: Simon Jones
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About this listen

Why do smart people make irrational decisions every day? The answers will surprise you. Predictably Irrational is an intriguing, witty and utterly original look at why we all make illogical decisions.

Why can a 50p aspirin do what a 5p aspirin can't? If an item is "free" it must be a bargain, right? Why is everything relative, even when it shouldn't be? How do our expectations influence our actual opinions and decisions?

In this astounding book, behavioural economist Dan Ariely cuts to the heart of our strange behaviour, demonstrating how irrationality often supplants rational thought and that the reason for this is embedded in the very structure of our minds.

Predicatably Irrational brilliantly blends everyday experiences with a series of illuminating and often surprising experiments, that will change your understanding of human behaviour. And, by recognising these patterns, Ariely shows that we can make better decisions in business, in matters of collective welfare, and in our everyday lives from drinking coffee to losing weight, buying a car to choosing a romantic partner.

©2008 Dan Ariely (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd Consciousness & Thought Creativity Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Business

Critic Reviews

‘A marvelous book that is both thought provoking and highly entertaining, ranging from the power of placebos to the pleasures of Pepsi. Ariely unmasks the subtle but powerful tricks that our minds play on us, and shows us how we can prevent being fooled.’ Jerome Groopman, New York Times bestselling author of How Doctors Think

‘PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL is wildly original. It shows why—much more often than we usually care to admit—humans make foolish, and sometimes disastrous, mistakes. Ariely not only gives us a great read; he also makes us much wiser.’ George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001 Koshland Professor of Economics, University of California at Berkeley

‘Dan Ariely is one of the most original and consistently interesting social scientists I know. His research covers an unusually broad range of topics, and in every one of them he has produced some distinctive findings and ideas. His methodological inventiveness is remarkable.’ Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize in Economics, 2002
All stars
Most relevant  
Narration was excellent
Content was good. Had many ahha! moments.
Chapters on anchoring was excellent.

A good listen

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some very interesting insights into human behavior and goes a long way to explain some of the irrational decisions we commonly make. good read, worth the time

Engaging read!

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So many interesting insights into our day to day behaviour! Loved the way the author never needed to draw on evolution to prove his points like so many psychology reads. Enjoyed the dry wit of the writer and the expressive and clear narration.

Excellent, rewarding listen

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I wish I understood this more, might take a few more listens, probably should buy a physical copy.

This is a great book

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Many books on similar topics get too academic and tend to lose the casual listener by complicating the narrative.

I really appreciate how Dan used common speech to describe and provided regular conclusions.

Enjoyable read with entertaining stories.

Easy takeaways

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I thought the book was trying too hard to push feminism, anti-masculine and socialist ideology.

political rubbish

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