Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape our Decisions

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape our Decisions is a nonfiction book written by Dan Ariely, a professor and author. Through scientific experiments and anecdotes, Ariely illustrates how humans are predictably irrational, a key tenet of behavioral economics. Ariely became interested in studying human behavior after an accident left him unable to participate in the same activities as family, friends, and society. From his position of temporary social alienation, he observed others as an outsider and began to wonder why humans do the things they do. One of the main lessons of Predictably Irrational is that there are forces, tied to our brain’s wiring, that deeply influence behavior. Most people fail to recognize these forces, causing them to repeat the same mistakes.

While the book was originally written in 2008, Ariely published a revised and expanded edition in 2010 with Harper Perennial. The latter edition is the basis for this guide.

Summary

Following the Introduction, Ariely details the various influences on human behavior as well as how a person might overcome some of these forces. Chapters 1 and 2 explore one such influence: the human lack of an internal

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