Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
PENGUIN BOOKS LTD (1994), Edition: New Ed, 368 pages
Description
Why do doctors, generals, civil servants and others consistently make wrong decisions that cause enormous harm to others? Irrational beliefs and behaviours are virtually universal. In this iconoclastic book Stuart Sutherland analyses causes of irrationality and examines why we are irrational, the different kinds of irrationality, the damage it does us and the possible cures.
User reviews
LibraryThing member urcinc
This is a fascinating explanation of how irrational we all are. Using some very good and specific examples, Sutherland demonstrates just how common irrational behaviour is. Why, for example, do we setlle for less for ourselves than we might have just so as to prevent someone else from getting more
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than us? Very readable! Show Less
LibraryThing member Thruston
Good insights into how people think irrationally, very strong on evidence from psychological studies, with thorough academic references at the back. Nevertheless very readable and informative. There's rather less coverage on why people think irrationally and what can be done about it. Just getting
I liked the short chapter format; each one ends with a summary in the form of a short list of Morals to be drawn from the evidence in the chapter.
Personally I would have liked to see an appendix with the mathematical details of the various models for decision making that are explained briefly but referred to frequently in the text.
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a little bit dated I felt. I liked the short chapter format; each one ends with a summary in the form of a short list of Morals to be drawn from the evidence in the chapter.
Personally I would have liked to see an appendix with the mathematical details of the various models for decision making that are explained briefly but referred to frequently in the text.
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LibraryThing member PaolaM
This is the first pop science book on rationality I ever read, and it made a great impression on me. Of course, this is now more than twenty years old (the first edition dates from 1992), and probably nowadays there are many eqivalent books, but this one gives a good overview of many common
One thing I learned is: if you phone your friend to tell him you wrecked his car, then tell him it was a joke, he will forever think of you as a bad driver, even if you returned the car he lent you in absolutely pristine conditions! The moral of it - careful when making jokes :-)
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pitfalls in decision making, illustrating many cognitive biases: from selective evidence, to overconfidence and ignoring or misinterpreting evidence. So you wont' get exposure to the latest developments on decision making, but the topics he treats are still current - Sutherland was a psychologist by trade, and he seems to know very well what he was writing about, adding to this a gripping writing style.One thing I learned is: if you phone your friend to tell him you wrecked his car, then tell him it was a joke, he will forever think of you as a bad driver, even if you returned the car he lent you in absolutely pristine conditions! The moral of it - careful when making jokes :-)
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LibraryThing member SwitchKnitter
The writing was perfectly fine, but I was already familiar with the concepts and information. So I quit reading it.
LibraryThing member Parthurbook
Some of the psychology behind Behavioural Economics (and the arrogance of senior professionals who 'know more than laypeople).
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
368 p.; 5.04 inches
ISBN
0140167269 / 9780140167269
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DDC/MDS
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