Predictably Irrational
"Most transactions have an upside and a downside, but when something is FREE! we forget the downside."
— 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
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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.