Marks out of ten: 8/10

Predictably Irrational surprised me, but also disappointed me. Not because of the writing, I thought it was a very engaging read, but because of the discoveries that the author made.

We believe that our decisions are based on rational choice, after reading this book you will realize that this is rarely the case. You will also realize that our beliefs can be so powerful that they can even effect us physically.

What disappointed me was how seemingly honest people would cheat given the opportunity and that we behave differently when money comes into play. During social experiments, thinking about money made participants “more self-reliant and less willing to ask for help.” But also participants were also less willing to help others. Just thinking about money makes us behave “less like the social animals we are in our daily lives.”

Our decisions are not based on logical reasoning, but on how we want to appear to others or through comparisons of arbitrary terms. After reading this book, I’ve realized how my reasoning is often manipulated. Hopefully, from now on I can start making more sound decisions. Wish me luck.