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Upside of Irrationality Book Report

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The Upside of Irrationality
Dan Ariely

Summary
Economic theory leads us to believe that humans act as “rational beings” when making decisions, however; in his book The Upside of Irrationality, Dan Ariely demonstrates that defying logic is part of what makes us human. In Upside, Ariely examines several aspects of the human condition through a series of experiments.
The outcome of these experiments generally provides intriguing insights and truths into the sometimes-aberrant nature of human behavior. Each chapter presents a separate topic, which is qualitatively and quantitatively examined to elucidate the dichotomy between logic and action experienced by people. The book is separated into two parts, the first half focusing on behavior in the work place while the second delves into personal relationships and how we instinctively treat others. Ariely does a wonderful job at keeping things interesting by using his personal insights and life experiences as inspiration for the topics he is presenting. In “The Case for Revenge” and “Hot or Not?” he shares the story of his quest for revenge against Audi for poor customer service and the struggles he faced after suffering disfigurement from a freak accident. Along with the objective content, these personal anecdotes make the book not only incredibly informative and insightful, but also a joy to read.

Strengths
One of the core strengths of this book is its appeal and the thought provoking content. Everyone has felt vindictive, impulsive, or prideful. Much of the content that Ariely presents in his book is immediately relatable because it is based on behavioral phenomena that are spurred by natural human emotion. Unlike management or self-help books that promote a “do this, not that” approach, Upside forces us to look in the mirror and confront the inconvenient truth of our irrational behavior. In each chapter,

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