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The Logic of Life: The Rational Economics of an Irrational World Paperback – February 10, 2009

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Tim Harford (Author)
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3.9 out of 5 stars 66 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 255 pages
  • Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks; Reprint edition (February 10, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0812977874
  • ISBN-13: 978-0812977875
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,477 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA valuable reminder that economics is a means not an end
By Andrew on January 17, 2008
Format: Hardcover
A lively and thought-provoking follow-up to Harford's debut book The Undercover Economist, which used textbook economics to throw new light on everyday life. In this second book Harford moves well beyond the textbook to take us on a tour of some cutting edge research and thinking that's emerging from what he calls a "new breed of economists". Among them is Steve Levitt, whose Freakonomics popularized the notion that economists can have interesting things to say about areas you wouldn't normally expect them to be poking their noses into - but Levitt is only one of many academic researchers who are cheerfully roaming over other people's turf from their economics labs, so Harford's book serves as a timely overview of a newly sexy subject.

The result is a startlingly diverse collection of insights and anecdotes which are all held together by one central premise - that you can explain a lot about life by starting from the simple assumption that people are fundamentally rational. This is not an uncontroversial assertion - among the "new breed of economists" are those melding economics with psychology into a fledgeling discipline of behavioral economics, which focuses on our irrational quirks. Harford's view is not to dismiss these human foibles, but to argue persuasively that they shouldn't be overstated, and that in most important situations we behave rationally - that is, subconsciously evaluating costs and benefits and responding to incentives - to a remarkable extent.

Harford's writing is a joy to read, especially when he's impishly puncturing pomposity - my favorite is the "why your boss is overpaid" chapter, which discusses several theories that could rationally explain the obscenely high wages commanded by modern CEOs (hint: none of them are "because they're worth it").Read more ›
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2.0 out of 5 starsAt best a badly edited book
By Yogesh Upadhyaya on July 1, 2008
Format: Hardcover
I liked Tim Hartford's earlier work - The Undercover Economist very much. I have taken a few graduate courses in Economics and loved the way the book refreshed and even gave new concepts to me. Thus, I picked up The Logic of Life with a lot of expectations. These expectations were badly dashed.

My big problem with this book is that Hartford lacks rigor. In a popular book I wouldn't expect the rigor of an academic article, but when an author draws conclusions that are wider ranging than warranted or if the author factually incorrect then I do have a problem. There are at least a couple of instances when Hartford does that. For me it taints the whole book - making me ask questions such as what if Hartford is factually incorrect in other places that I don't know about.

Hartford relies a lot on the experiments of John List to set up his premise - People are more rational in their day to day life than psychologists give them credit for. One set of List's experiments demonstrated that experienced pin and baseball card collectors are able to make rational decisions in situations where rookies often make irrational ones. Hartford then extends this logic to claim that as people are experienced in their day to day life - in activities such as work and shopping - they are unlikely to make the rookie irrational mistakes. To me this is a big stretch. I don't know anyone who thinks a day-to-day shopping decision through as much as an experienced collector would. A little effort from the author here in establishing his premise would have been really well served.

Hartford really lets go of rigor when criticizing the work of Jeffery Sachs.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsHow small, rational decisions can produce big problems
By Watt on January 25, 2008
Format: Hardcover
This book works because it takes a simple concept,that rational choice underlies much of human behavior, and that many of our seemingly intractable problems have been produced by fairly mild and even rational individual decisions. I urge you to begin the book by reading the section on "rational racism," which I found in many ways the most compelling (and disturbing) part of the book. Harford actually begins the book with a discussion of apparently worrying teenage sexuality that turns out to be more encouraging than you might think possible. In doing so he reminds us that many of the things about which we worry,and about which commentators with big audiences shout shrilly, can be explained in a much clearer way by looking carefully at the rational decisions that produce them.

A great book and a fun read.
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5.0 out of 5 starsLearn to go past knee-jerk explanations to a deeper understanding of our world
By M. Strong on February 14, 2008
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Increasingly, economics is being used to explain the actions people take outside of their financial lives and then turned into books that are readable and, dare I say, interesting for lay people. Harford's latest work is the best of this crop that I've read so far.

What Harford does so well is pick interesting everyday topics, some big and some small, explain the rationale typically used to explain why things are the way they are, and then paint a new picture of what is driving peoples' actions. Harford explains why people will pay more to live in cities and why new tele-commuting technology will make cities more attractive, not less. He digs into the sadly explainable roots of racial discrimination in hiring and why some students are making the rational choice when they conciously decide not to study. The reasons may surprise you, but you will enjoy his explanations and frequently end up nodding in agreement or shaking your head in frustration with the inescapable but lousy conclusions.

The greatest thing about Harford's book is how clearly it demonstrates the value that economics can deliver. Done right, economics is a powerful tool for identifying the root causes of both good and bad trends. If a trend is good (Harford explains historic growth in wealth) you can learn how to promote it further. If a trend is bad (the decline of a city like New Orleans or Detroit) you can figure out how best to deal with it. Economics gives its users a tool for objective, clear thinking that is tough to come by.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to develop their thought process. You'll come away a smarter voter, wiser consumer of news and thinking more clearly all-around.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsgreat start on logic

This is a great book

Published 11 months ago by Aaron
2.0 out of 5 starsGovernment Promotes Irrationality

Harford discusses economic irrationality and comes close to identifying the causes, but then veers off into emotion and politics. Read more

Published 16 months ago by Marvelous Mal
5.0 out of 5 starsThis may be my favorite of the three Harford books I have read

"The Logic of Life" describes what economists mean by rational and then pursues how economists use that assumption to examine crime, characteristics of cities, marriage and... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Bryan B.
3.0 out of 5 starsGood stories

Not sure what to make of this book. Not as well written as it could have been and not sure about the grand ideas, especially about politics. Read more

Published 20 months ago by Kevin Schmittgens
4.0 out of 5 starsThree cheers for the 'dismal science'!

Economics has its popularizer! TH packs quite a lot of material into this slim quick reading book -- all of it interesting and most of it topical. Read more

Published 21 months ago by Librum
4.0 out of 5 starsExcellent food for Thought

Almost as good as Freakonomics. And it's something you can experiment with when you read the newspaper or your e-mail every day.

Published 23 months ago by Hobson Lane
4.0 out of 5 starsgood book.

good book. great if you are a University Student or a young professional looking for more perspectives on business and government.

Published on February 18, 2014 by Rex C Cameron
3.0 out of 5 starsNot bad but it contradicts proponents of rational racism

Harford is oft quoted by right-wing types to justify bigotry or racism, in either "soft" or "hard" aspects. Read more

Published on January 27, 2014 by Enrique Cardova
5.0 out of 5 starsLoved it

For some random reason I decided to read this during my senior year of high school. It probably has something to do with with the fact that the words "economics" or... Read more

Published on November 7, 2013 by Katherine
4.0 out of 5 stars"Our rational behavior often backfire socially"- Tim Harford

The author's attention to detail on a variety of subject matter make this book for an interesting read. Read more

Published on August 28, 2013 by Jeff Commissaris

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