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The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home [Hardcover]

Dan Ariely (Author)
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Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0061995037 | ISBN-13: 978-0061995033 | Edition: 1

The provocative follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Predictably Irrational

  • Why can large bonuses make CEOs less productive?
  • How can confusing directions actually help us?
  • Why is revenge so important to us?
  • Why is there such a big difference between what we think will make us happy and what really makes us happy?

In his groundbreaking book Predictably Irrational, social scientist Dan Ariely revealed the multiple biases that lead us into making unwise decisions. Now, in The Upside of Irrationality, he exposes the surprising negative and positive effects irrationality can have on our lives. Focusing on our behaviors at work and in relationships, he offers new insights and eye-opening truths about what really motivates us on the job, how one unwise action can become a long-term habit, how we learn to love the ones we're with, and more.

Drawing on the same experimental methods that made Predictably Irrational one of the most talked-about bestsellers of the past few years, Ariely uses data from his own original and entertaining experiments to draw arresting conclusions about how—and why—we behave the way we do. From our office attitudes, to our romantic relationships, to our search for purpose in life, Ariely explains how to break through our negative patterns of thought and behavior to make better decisions. The Upside of Irrationality will change the way we see ourselves at work and at home—and cast our irrational behaviors in a more nuanced light.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ariely (Predictably Irrational) expands his research on behavioral economics to offer a more positive and personal take on human irrationality's implications for life, business, and public policy. After a youthful accident left him badly scarred and facing grueling physical therapy, Ariely's treatment required him to accept temporary pain for long-term benefit—a trade-off so antithetical to normal human behavior that it sparked the author's fascination with why we consistently fail to act in our own best interest. The author, professor of behavioral economics at Duke, leads us through experiments that reveals such idiosyncrasies as the IKEA effect (if you build something, pride and sentimental attachment are likely to give you an inflated sense of its quality) and the Baby Jessica effect (why we respond to one person's suffering but not to the suffering of many). He concludes with prescriptions for how to make real personal and societal changes, and what behavioral patterns we must identify to improve how we love, live, work, innovate, manage, and govern. Self-deprecating humor, an enthusiasm for human eccentricities, and an affable and snappy style make this read an enriching and eye-opening pleasure. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In Predictably Irrational (2008), Ariely explored the reasons why human beings frequently put aside common sense and why bad things often happen when they do. Here, in this equally entertaining and clever follow-up, Ariely shows us the other side of the irrationality coin: the beneficial outcomes and pleasant surprises that often arise from irrational behavior. Although pleasant should be taken as a relative term, since the outcomes are not necessarily pleasant for the person who was behaving irrationally. Take, for example, Thomas Edison’s obsession with DC current, and his irrational hatred of AC: trying to prove how dangerous AC was, he inadvertently—with his development of the electric chair—demonstrated to the world how powerful it could be. Ariely is an engaging and efficient writer, amusing us with stories about irrational behavior while staying away from needless technical terminology and bafflegab. Thought-provoking, entertaining, and smart: a winning combination. --David Pitt
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Harper; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061995037
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061995033
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Dan Ariely Page
Dan Ariely
Dan Ariely is the James B Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University.

Dan publishes widely in the leading scholarly journals in economics, psychology, and business. His work has been featured in a variety of media including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Business 2.0, Scientific American, Science and CNN. He splits his time between Durham NC and the rest of the world

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
77 of 84 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
In his latest book, Dan Ariely takes another look at some irrational behavior of humans. I am not sure that there is an upside to all the different irrational behaviors he explores. You could make the case that by becoming aware of our irrational behavior and understanding better where it comes from, we might be in a better position to make appropriate changes. My point is I am not sure the title is indicative of the subject matter.

I found the book fascinating. At times I thought that he might be going into too much detail or dragging the story out a bit too long. But as I finished reading the book, I found that the lessons were sticking with me. I suspect that his teaching and writing techniques are highly developed and his approach is one that will leave the greatest impact on the student or reader.

There are several important concepts that he explores in this book. One subject I truly enjoyed and learned from what our innate desire for revenge. To illustrate the point, he told about his unfortunate experience with the purchase of an Audi automobile. At one time or another most of us have felt taken advantage of by a large company with rigid rules and procedures. I strongly felt his sense of outrage toward Audi. And while the story is a great example, I also feel sure that he is getting some revenge by telling how horrible their customer service can be. I am certainly not their ideal prospect but based on the story, I would never consider buying an Audi. I do believe that social media has leveled the playing field and given the average consumer a way to lash back. But as he points out in the book, revenge is a hollow victory and when we get consumed in seeking it, we generally lose.

There are numerous other concepts involving irrational behavior that he explores. One is our tendency to make rash decisions under the influence of emotions and then to continue to make decisions which are consistent with the emotional based decisions long after the emotional feelings have faded. We can become victims of our own emotional decisions.

Dan tells plenty of very personal stories in this book. You get to know him very well ... at times you get to share in-depth some very personal painful experiences he has gone through. It makes him very real. He is extremely open and transparent in this book. You will probably find it difficult to read about some of the pain he experienced during the recovery from a terrible accident. But there are some very valuable lessons imbeded in the stories he tells.

I immediately found myself using some to the lessons in this book in my work helping others. One very important lesson involves what we get from work. He told the story of a book editor who completed the task of editing a book and was paid the agreed price. She was then told by the publisher that he had decided not to publish the book. On a rational level, it should have made no difference. But she was highly disappointed. The lesson is we want/need both the material compensation from work and the feeling of contribution we get from work. Without the feeling that what we do matters, we are left with an emotional letdown.

There is an interesting chapter on why online dating does not work and another chapter on how compensation is a poor motivator. Reading this book will give you a much better understanding of human behavior.

The book is very easy to read. It is written in a totally conversational style. Dan has the rare gift to take a complex subject and present it in easy to understand concepts. His approach to writing is somewhat different but I believe highly effective in terms of understanding and retention.

As Daniel Goleman pointed out in his books Social Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence, so much of our success is dependent on our social and emotional intelligence - not our IQ. This book will help you improve your social and emotional intelligence.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Dan Ariely's "The Upside of Irrationality" is subtitled "The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home." A more apt title would have been "Predictably Irrational--the Sequel," since this book comes across more as a follow-up to Ariely's first book ("Predictably Irrational--The Hidden forces that Shape Our Decisions") than a presentation of completely new material. The author, who is a behavioral economist, recounts a series of experiments that he and his colleagues conducted to explore such questions as: What makes work meaningful and, conversely, what can make it dull and unsatisfying? Why do people procrastinate? How does a person's self-image influence whom he chooses to date? Why is revenge so sweet even though it "has no more quenching effect on emotions than salt water has on thirst"? In what ways do our emotions impel us to make self-destructive decisions?

In Chapter Eleven, "Lessons from Our Irrationalities," Ariely sums up his thesis succinctly: "Our cognitive biases often lead us astray, particularly when we have to make, big, difficult, [and] painful choices." The author brings his point home in a poignant manner when he discusses what happened after he incurred third degree burns in an accident. In order to reduce his pain and the number of surgeries he would have to undergo, his doctor recommended the amputation of his hand and forearm. Dan says, "I decided to hold on to my poor, limited, eviscerated limb and make the best of things." Now he wonders if he made a mistake: "I was not so rational, and I kept my arm--resulting in more operations, reduced flexibility, and frequent pain."

Although this book breaks little new ground in a popular field crowded with similar works, Ariely's personal account of his ordeal, including the excruciating physical and occupational therapy that he endured, make for compelling reading. When Dan admits that he agonized over his ability to find a woman to love as well as a satisfying job, we cannot help but empathize. "The Upside of Irrationality" offers a much-needed reminder that we can never totally eliminate our subconscious biases. At best, we can remain cognizant of our irrationality, and make use of our self-knowledge to optimize our chances for success and happiness.
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57 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Well worth the wait. May 27, 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Fans of Predictably Irrational will be pleased with the second installment into what appears to be an "Irrational" series.

I would quibble with the title and the subtitle of the book but what really matters is what is between the covers.

Without giving away a book full of hard earned research results, perhaps capturing a clip from the book will best describe why this book will do so well.

In a comparison of perceived clutch basketball players with bankers, you find out that there really is not much evidence for a category of "clutch" basketball players. Yes, these players get the ball more in the final five minutes of the game, and therefore score more points but they perform no better or worse than they do in the rest of the game. The notion of the "clutch player" is not completely negated, but evidence is brought forth that any apparent higher caliber play in the final five is simply a function of more opportunities.

The reason this research was done was to build on research conducted in India using a limited bank account but wanting to find out just how performance bonuses might motivate people.

Various individuals are offered a chance to be given certain amounts of money based upon how well they perform in 8 games. It turns out the more money possible to be scored, the more likely the individual was to fail at the games. There was a bump over people performing for little more than a few hours of their time taken up but a more significant bump for individuals who received moderate sized "bonuses."

The experiment was laid out to show that large bonuses...amounting to as much as 5 months worth of income if medium difficulty level tasks were completed...don't motivate but actual interfere with performance.

Ariely was obviously on top of the notion that this part of India was incredibly poor so having a chance at 5 months worth of income was truly dramatic.

As I read this I thought, "yes but could this be the difference between eating and not eating, or is this the difference between buying a TV or not having a TV."

With that mindset I found the results fascinating.

If you've ever watched the TV Show Survivor, you've seen similar behaviors by people who consistently lose. People who let the pressure get to them because the clock is ticking... can do nothing but fail, and do indeed fail. But in Survivor there is always a winner. Some adapt. Some do not. An area for further study perhaps.

I suspect Ariely's findings will generalize in most areas of business. It's hard to imagine that mega-bonuses do anything but reduce performance. Sharing a similar view with an audience of bankers he reports having found little support for his notion. No surprise to Ariely or the reader.

Perhaps most interesting are his final thoughts on this specific topic which is decision makers he's spoken to at companies seem clueless as to the effects of bonuses on performance and they seem uninterested in testing to find out what the results are.

Each section in the book is filled with nuggets. There are many aha's to the wise. There are many moments of "Oh I knew that already," because the human mind is geared to have excellent hindsight and great ability to change what we would have predicted before the fact... Trying disengage from that bias is not as easy as one might think!

The Upside of Irrationality delves into a host of fascinating areas.

The research goes into the dating arena. Ariely shows us why we overvalue the things we make ourselves. He explains many things not covered by others in the field including a very nice indepth look at why we seek justice.

Like it's predecessor this book entertains, informs and gives pause for thought in your (my) own life.

Kevin Hogan
Author of The Psychology of Persuasion: How to Persuade Others to Your Way of Thinking
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Provides Great Insight Into Why People Act As They Do
In this sequel to his great book Predictably Irrational, Dan Ariely gives further examples of his experiments in behavioral economics, but also delves into how one might be able to... Read more
Published 10 hours ago by Eoghann Irving
From the laboratory to the waiting public, nothing lost in...
This is a wonderfully written, amusing book on top of being very informative. The author benefited (?!) by being almost burned to death when he was 18. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Graham H. Seibert
Behavioral Economics by Dan Ariely, No More Malcom Gladwell For Me,...
Dan's wonderful book and his variety of experiments, makes this book, a wonderful treat for all to read. Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Henry
If you are fascinated by human nature and want to improve your life,...
From the very first paragraph of the introduction, it felt like Dan Ariely was speaking directly to me when he pointed out how difficult it is to successfully stop procrastinating,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Adam Khan
UK Accent and Blunt Personalities Always Seem to Make Things More Fun...
Only didn't give it 5 stars because it's like a movie sequel- the 2nd is never as good as the first. Read more
Published 5 months ago by PIA
For the smart reader with an interest in psych,econ. & culture
Great repartee. A pretty easy read. I did have to re-read the parts of the book with special attention to the passages I had marked. What I like best about this, It made me think. Read more
Published 6 months ago by J. Baltrus
Ariely is a terrific writer!
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This is an absolutely fascinating book. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it. Read more
Published 9 months ago by rlweaverii
No Longer Fresh and Startling
Dan Ariely treads familiar ground in this best-selling sequel to "Predictably Irrational." There were some startling and counter-intuitive insights in "Predictably Irrational"... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jiang Xueqin
Very readable, so human, the writer spins a compelling book that I...
The sequel to Predictably Irrational by one of my favorite economists. His stuff is just so "useful". Read more
Published 9 months ago by Reg Nordman
Not as good as Ariely's first book
When I first read Predictably Irrational it sparked an interest to read more about behavioral economics. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Erez Davidi
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