Predictably Irrational
"humans rarely choose things in absolute terms. We don't have an internal value meter that tells us how much things are worth. Rather, we focus on the relative advantage of one thing over another, and estimate value accordingly."
— Dan Ariely, Predictably Irrational (2008)
Introduction
| Predictably Irrational | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Full title | Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions |
| Author | Dan Ariely |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Behavioral economics; Decision making; Psychology |
| Genre | Nonfiction; Behavioral economics |
| Publisher | Harper |
Publication date | 19 February 2008 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover); e-book; audiobook |
| Pages | 280 |
| ISBN | 978-0-06-135323-9 |
| Website | predictablyirrational.com |
Chapter summary
This outline follows the Harper hardcover first edition (2008), ISBN 978-0-06-135323-9.[1][2]
🚦 1 – The truth about relativity : why everything is relative, even when it shouldn't be.
📈 2 – The fallacy of supply and demand : why the price of pearls, and everything else, is up in the air.
🆓 3 – The cost of zero cost : why we often pay too much when we pay nothing.
🤝 4 – The cost of social norms : why we are happy to do things, but not when we are paid to do them.
🔥 5 – The influence of arousal : why hot is much hotter than we realize.
⏳ 6 – The problem of procrastination and self-control : why we can't make ourselves do what we want to do.
🏠 7 – The high price of ownership : why we overvalue what we have.
🚪 8 – Keeping doors open : why options distract us from our main objective.
🎭 9 – The effect of expectations : why the mind gets what it expects.
💊 10 – The power of price : why a 50-cent aspirin can do what a penny aspirin can't.
🕵️ 11 – The context of our character, part I : why we are dishonest, and what we can do about it.
💵 12 – The context of our character, part II : why dealing with cash makes us more honest.
🍺 13 – Beer and free lunches : what is behavioral economics, and where are the free lunches?.
Related content & more
YouTube videos
CapSach articles
References
- ↑ "Predictably irrational : the hidden forces that shape our decisions". WorldCat.org. OCLC. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions (review)". Journal of Pension Economics & Finance. Cambridge University Press. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2025.