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Perfectly irrational

the unexpected ways we defy logic at work and at home

Dan Ariely

334 pages

A playful, eye-opening tour through the hidden quirks and cognitive blind spots that secretly run our lives.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like sitting down for coffee with a brilliant, slightly mischievous professor who is determined to show you how delightfully flawed your brain is. The pace is brisk and engaging, propelled by a steady stream of clever experiments and relatable anecdotes that make you laugh in sudden recognition. It creates an atmosphere of warm, inquisitive reflection, stripping away the guilt we feel over our illogical choices and replacing it with a sense of wonder at human complexity. The prose is conversational and highly accessible, translating dense behavioral economics into everyday epiphanies about work, love, and motivation. It is a perfect fit for armchair psychologists and anyone who loves a good paradigm-shifting moment about the weirdness of human nature.

Mood
  • intellectually stimulating
  • lighthearted
  • curious
  • reflective
Tone
  • wry
  • conversational
  • inquisitive
  • accessible
  • self-deprecating
Pace
brisk
Themes
human fallibility · hidden logic of emotion · workplace motivation · behavioral quirks · romantic blind spots
The writing
Clear, conversational, and peppered with relatable anecdotes and accessible data.
The arc
Moves from amused recognition of our own foolishness to a forgiving, empowered understanding of human nature.
Who it's for
Curious minds who love understanding the hidden 'why' behind human behavior and enjoy pop-psychology with practical takeaways.
Content notes
  • discussions of severe burn injuries
  • medical trauma

About the book

The provocative follow-up to the Predictably IrrationalWhy 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.

Description from Open Library.

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