Predictably Irrational Revised And Expanded Edition

Predictably Irrational is a book by behavioral economist Dan Ariely that argues that human behavior is often anything but rational. Ariely discusses various examples of how humans often make decisions that are not in their best interest, such as overpaying for coffee, eating out instead of cooking at home, and choosing a romantic partner. Ariely argues that these behaviors are systematic and predictable, and that as a result, humans are predictably irrational.

In the tradition of Freakonomics and Blink, a behavioral economist argues that human behavior is often anything but rational--that thoughts are not random, but instead are systematic and predictable. Why do our headaches persist after we take a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a fifty-cent aspirin? Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save twenty-five cents on a can of soup? When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we're making smart, rational choices. But are we? In this newly revised and expanded edition of the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. From drinking coffee to losing weight, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, we consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate. Yet these misguided behaviors are neither random nor senseless. They're systematic and predictable--making us predictably irrational. Review: Sly and lucid. . . . Predictably Irrational is a far more revolutionary book than its unthreatening manner lets on. --New York Times Book Review