New York Times Bestseller
“Ariely is a genius at understanding human behavior: no economist does a better job of uncovering and explaining the hidden reasons for the weird ways we act.” — James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds
Behavioral economist and New York Times bestselling author of Predictably Irrational Dan Ariely offers a much-needed take on the irrational decisions that influence our dating lives, our workplace experiences, and our temptation to cheat in any and all areas. Fans of Freakonomics, Survival of the Sickest, and Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink and The Tipping Point will find many thought-provoking insights in The Upside of Irrationality.
How can large bonuses sometimes make CEOs less productive?
Why is revenge so important to us?
How can confusing directions actually help us?
Why is there a difference between what we think will make us happy and what really makes us happy?
In his groundbreaking book, Predictably Irrational, Ariely revealed the multiple biases that lead us to make unwise decisions. Now, in The Upside of Irrationality, he exposes the surprising negative and positive effects irrationality can have on our lives. Focusing on our behaviors at work and in relationships, he offers new insights and eye-opening truths about what really motivates us on the job, how one unwise action can become a long-term bad habit, how we learn to love the ones we’re with, and more. The Upside of Irrationality will change the way we see ourselves at work and at home—and cast our irrational behaviors in a more nuanced light.
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"Ariely is a behavioral economist. He addresses various questions by using real life tests that I found quite brilliant at times. His book is much like Freakonomics. Two issues he addressed I found interesting were the quality and results of online dating sites (he had a great test and even better ideas about how to improve them) and if large bonuses increase performance (they do not)."
— Smith (4 out of 5 stars)
“As in his previous book, the bestselling Predictably Irrational, the experiments Ariely describes generate entertaining and often counterintuitive insights…deciding how to apply [these] insights is a pleasure that lingers long after the book is finished.”
— New York Times“Arielly examines the powerful sway that irrational motivations and urges have on our personal and professional lives. His discussion mixes both his personal experiences and a variety of research, including many experiments performed by him and colleagues. With his crisp English accent and assertive delivery, Simon Jones can be wonderful to listen to.”
— Publishers Weekly“Entertaining and clever…Ariely shows us the other side of the irrationality coin: the beneficial outcomes and pleasant surprises that often arise from irrational behavior…Ariely is an engaging and efficient writer, amusing us with stories about irrational behavior while staying away from needless technical terminology and bafflegab. Thought-provoking, entertaining, and smart: a winning combination.”
— Booklist" Ariely was the most engaging keynote speaker of the 2010 JMP Discovery Conference. I disagree with his interpretative conclusion for a couple experiments in this book, but generally he presents accurate observations of human nature. "
— Mike, 2/8/2014" Interesting, thought provoking book. The sections on adaptation and decision making are definitely applicable. I did enjoy the style of Predictably Irrational better. "
— Kat, 2/4/2014" I do not find (Traditional) economics useful to a point when in certain circumstances it should not be even considered (empiric) science, but Behavioral economics, presented by Dan Ariely, is a completely different story ... "
— Karol, 1/17/2014" A good, interesting read. As a single guy trying to find love online, I especially liked the chapters on online dating, but it's full of interesting facts and studies, and great stuff to bring up at cocktail parties. If you ever get invited to cocktail parties. "
— Anthony, 1/17/2014" extremely interesting book. I kind of want to be experimented on now. "
— YingYing, 1/14/2014" This is a continuation of his first book. Although it was good, it did not, for me, have as much impact as the first one, which was excellent. "
— Donna, 1/14/2014" Interesting read but not much useful information. "
— Ellen, 1/13/2014" One of my all-time favorite books. This is the kind of stuff that really intrigues me. Understanding one's own psychology for better decision making and overall functioning. I prefer you read the first book though, Predictably Irrational, before reading this one. "
— Alaeddin, 1/10/2014" Fascinating look at what motivates our ethics in the workplace and at home. "
— Sally, 1/9/2014" Super book. Both entertaining and informative. Great experiments that are fairly simple to both carry out and understand, yet they reveal deep insights into human behavior. "
— Otter57, 1/3/2014" This is another case where it seems the author used some of his best material for the first book. While I thought Predictably Irrational was a great book and would highly recommend it, I wouldn't recommend The Upside of Irrationality. "
— Chris, 12/18/2013Dan Ariely is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality. He is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University and is the founder of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, and elsewhere.
Simon Jones is an English actor and award-winning audiobook narrator. Besides winning many AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration, he has won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, including for top prize of Audiobook of the Year. He was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine and as “Narrator of the Year” in 2005 by Publishers Weekly. As an actor, he has been featured in numerous Broadway productions and has appeared in the films The Devil’s Own, Twelve Monkeys, For Love or Money, Green Card, Brazil, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life, and Miracle on 34th Street remake. His television appearances include a role in The Cosby Mysteries and Murder She Wrote. He studied at Cambridge University and the legendary Cambridge Footlights Dramatic Club.