Predictably Irrational

This is the most informative look at behavioral economics that also made me laugh out loud—often embarrassing myself on airplanes because I was reading a non-fiction book that made me actually snort with laughter.

Ariely is a profoundly accomplished researcher himself, and he’s interested in all the quirks of humanity—not to explain them away or make us look more rational than we are—but to really expose us to ourselves. I saw myself more clearly and also with more compassion by the time I finished this book and I loved my fellow humans more.

As of 2023, behavioral economics is no longer a surprising new look at old economics principles–but that doesn’t change just how entertaining, surprising, and challenging you will find the experiments detailed in Predictably Irrational. 

In one notable experiment, Dr. Ariely placed six-packs of soft drinks next to plates of cash inside of communal dorm fridges–to prove we tend to be honest about cash but feel no compunction about swiping someone else’s Coke. In another memorable experiment, male volunteers were asked moral questions when they were in a state of arousal–which helped prove that morals are flexible depending on the circumstances.… show more.

Predictably Irrational literally changed my life.

It forced me to see the world through lenses I had never previously considered. Each chapter masterfully married rigorous science and illustrious storytelling to explain human behavior in ways that simultaneously felt both familiar and foreign.

With great detail, Ariely unlocks how our behavior consistently runs counter to what we perceive as “logical,” despite the conventional wisdoms about what we do and why we do it.

It was this book that single-handily sparked my curiosity in the behavioral sciences and led me down the path to becoming a practicing academic. 

People, which includes your boss, do stupid and seemingly irrational things all the time.

Like not promoting you when you so richly deserve it! ;-) By reading this book, you’ll have a much better understanding of why people do things that seem illogical.

It will teach open your mind and help you better understand the behavior of your boss, co-workers, and underlings.

In time, you will master how to get them to help you in your career!

Predictably Irrational is a classic and influential book on human decision-making.

Ariely is a seasoned storyteller and the book is backed by both scientific facts, clever experiments and amusing anecdotes. The key theme is that people often behave in strange and seemingly irrational ways, such as when we overpay, procrastinate, or underestimate.

However, with a little help from psychology and behavioral economics, Ariely shows us why it makes sense after all and why we are, yes; predictably irrational. 

This book explores the idea that human decision-making is often influenced by unconscious biases and irrational behaviors.

Ariely argues that traditional economic models of decision-making are based on the assumption that humans are rational actors who make decisions based on self-interest, but in reality, our decisions are often influenced by emotions, social norms, and other external factors.

Ariely presents numerous examples and experiments that demonstrate how our irrational behavior can affect our decision-making, from the way we value products to the way we approach risk and uncertainty. 

As I apply Design Thinking to solve real world problems from human perspective,… show more.

I found Predictably Irrational by Dr. Dan Ariely fascinating. This book provides a deep understanding of how and why people make decisions and how these decisions are affected by emotions, social norms, and other hidden forces. As a marketer, understanding the predictable irrationality of human behavior can help you craft more effective campaigns, pricing strategies, and communication. The book will improve your understanding of consumer behavior and help you make better decisions.

People consider themselves as rational beings, but we are not—in more than one surprising way. Ariely is giving us examples and sharing stories that show us how irrational we can sometimes really be. Reading this book cannot just allow us to see things more clearly when we make our choices in life. It can also allow us to understand others, and in a weird and funny way maybe even help us be more compassionate when facing other people's mistakes.

In Predictably Irrational, Dan Ariely proves why the customers-know-best approach is romanticized and not coherent with how people think and act in the real world. The book opens our minds to how individuals can be complex in our decision-making, and how our behavioural and psychological complexity can make us both irrational and predictable at the same time. Most importantly, you can practically apply the theories and concepts in your digital marketing. Incorporating more insights from this book can inform better testing strategies that holistically understand the customer mindset, creating more aligned and better customer experiences.

When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we're making intelligent, rational choices. But are we really?

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely took me through a learning journey helping me see how decisions people make are actually often predictably irrational. For example, why do people consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate? So why do I pick this book on my Top 5 list for negotiators? When negotiators begin to understand the hidden forces that shape decisions, they are more likely to realize they are often their own worst enemy when negotiating. And they can gain better insights into the… show more.