A Taste Of Irrationality: Sample Chapters From Predictably Irrational And Upside Of Irrationality

Sample chapters from __Predictably Irrational__ and __Upside of Irrationality__. __Predictably Irrational__ 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. __Upside of Irrationality__ The provocative follow-up to the __New York Times__ bestseller __Predictably Irrational__ * Why can large bonuses make CEOs less productive? * How can confusing directions actually help us? * Why is revenge so important to us? * Why is there such a big difference between what we __think__ will make us happy and what __really__ makes us happy? In his groundbreaking book __Predictably Irrational__, social scientist Dan Ariely revealed the multiple biases that lead us into making 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 habit, how we learn to love the ones we're with, and more. Drawing on the same experimental methods that made __Predictably Irrational__ one of the most talked-about bestsellers of the past few years, Ariely uses data from his own original and entertaining experiments to draw arresting conclusions about how—and why—we behave the way we do. From our office attitudes, to our romantic relationships, to our search for purpose in life, Ariely explains how to break through our negative patterns of thought and behavior to make better decisions. __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.