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| Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions | 
 enlarge | Author: Dan Ariely
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £16.99
Buy New: £8.49
You Save: £8.50 (50%)
New (21) from £8.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  53 reviews
Sales Rank: 1522
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6 x 1.1
ISBN: 0007256523
EAN: 9780007256525
ASIN: 0007256523
Publication Date: March 3, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
Interesting read about psychology and behaviour March 20, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a good read for anyone who is interested in understanding the factors that could influence behaviour. From a sales and marketing viewpoint, it's given me some insight and led me to review some of my pricing and advertising models.
There are many examples and "tests" where you can compare your answers to the answers given by his survey sample. Sadly, the data and focus is US-centric - while much of what he discusses is universal, there are bound to be cultural differences so it would have been useful to have a wider geographical sample base.
Despite this "flaw", this book will give you insight and make you think.
A good book to read with this is Influence of Persuasion by Cialdini.
 Excellent and Interesting Read March 20, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is extremely interesting because it explains how humans behave in various scenarios in the marketplace and socially. Every point is backed up by research the author has undertaken with volunteers.
It is ideal for those studying marketing, those with their own businesses and people who are interested in understanding how we humans think.
The style of writing makes it very easy to read, it isn't written in a heavy style. It is divided into several subjects, each subject is explored, researched and backed up by results and a conclusion given.
All in all a very interesting book which I have no problems in recommending.
The hidden mysteries of advertising and how it attracts and encapsulates you. March 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Brilliant, this book did more for my understanding of the advertising world in the first 30 pages that an entire years reading of The Times, Economist and websurfing.
Written in a simple, accessable style, the author explains things in such a way by breaking down points into their constituent parts, their hidden meaning and reason for being there, as well as the deliberate trickery that is used to get you to purchase things that not only you don't need, but don't want as well.
Fascinating, and an invaluable insight into the psychology of selling, it is definately on the must have list for 2008 for my friends.
It has already saved me money, and I have only had it for two weeks: The same potential for success is there for everyone to try. An absolute, definate A+ from me.
 Predictably Predictable March 20, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Although this book is an enjoyable read, I didn't find it overly enlightening on a psychological level. The experiments couldn't be taken too seriously and the overall tone of the book was light hearted. On the whole I found it to be just too American. Having read the reviews on Amazon.com, I understand that the author is a celebrity in the States. The chapter on with Saran (I presume this is cling film)-wrapped laptops was particularly amusing when read out loud to my boyfriend. The stars are awarded for entertainment rather than educational value.
One of many... March 19, 2008
Alongside the Freakonomics tome and The Undercover Economist, Dan Ariely attempts to uncover and unravel that peculiarly irrational heart of human decision making : humans themselves. We are notoriously emotional, tricky beats, who often fail to understand ourselves let alone anyone else, so it's a hard slog to the untrained mind. Thankfully, Airley manages to get to the heart of the matter and explains the risk/reward carrot/stick behavioural models, as well as times when our emotions may control us and we don't even know. Taking the direct route to an explanation where many would follow the obscure answer, there is little wasted space in this econocomical and succint text that manages to reveal light on the great unknown that is the human mind. There is still a lot to learn.
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