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Misbehaving

The Making of Behavioral Economics

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Misbehaving

By: Richard H. Thaler
Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
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About this listen

Get ready to change the way you think about economics.

Richard H. Thaler has spent his career studying the radical notion that the central agents in the economy are humans - predictable, error-prone individuals. Misbehaving is his arresting, frequently hilarious account of the struggle to bring an academic discipline back down to earth - and change the way we think about economics, ourselves, and our world.

Traditional economics assumes rational actors. Early in his research, Thaler realized these Spock-like automatons were nothing like real people. Whether buying a clock radio, selling basketball tickets, or applying for a mortgage, we all succumb to biases and make decisions that deviate from the standards of rationality assumed by economists. In other words we misbehave. More importantly, our misbehavior has serious consequences. Dismissed at first by economists as an amusing sideshow, the study of human miscalculations and their effects on markets now drives efforts to make better decisions in our lives, our businesses, and our governments.

Coupling recent discoveries in human psychology with a practical understanding of incentives and market behavior, Thaler enlightens listeners about how to make smarter decisions in an increasingly mystifying world. He reveals how behavioral economic analysis opens up new ways to look at everything from household finance to assigning faculty offices in a new building to TV game shows, the NFL draft, and businesses like Uber.

Laced with antic stories of Thaler's spirited battles with the bastions of traditional economic thinking, Misbehaving is a singular look into profound human foibles. When economics meets psychology, the implications for individuals, managers, and policy makers are both profound and entertaining.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2015 Richard H. Thaler (P)2015 Audible, Inc.
Consumer Behaviour & Market Research Economic History Psychology Business Behavioural Science

Editorial reviews

Editors Select, May 2015 - With the backing of two Nobel Prize winners in the field of Economics and a ringing endorsement from Malcolm Gladwell, who said, 'If I had to be trapped in an elevator with any contemporary intellectual, I'd pick Richard Thaler,' I knew Misbehaving would be an enlightening listen. But it was also entertaining in the way that a great college class can be, with the professor using real-life scenarios and his own biography to color his points. In Misbehaving, Thaler argues against the traditional economic thinking that humans are 'homo economicus' – rational decision makers programmed to act in their best interests – and asserts, instead, that our consistent deviation from these assumed standards reveals new ways to think about the world. —Doug, Audible Editor

What listeners say about Misbehaving

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Loved it

Great writing, great performing. Definitely has me more interested in economics as it addresses a lot of problems I intuitively had with the field

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A very good listen in general.

Great insightful book with many vivid examples, though some a bit overlapped with the book Nudge.

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Wow, humans are strange

A wonderful view of how we decide and select items in everyday life. Actually makes Economics interesting. More interesting than you could ever imagine.

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Simply great boook

I will sugest this book to everyone. It is not just about economics but about everyday life of each of us.

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great read foe those interested in topic area

For those interested in psychology and business or finance books.

makes a good trade off between narrative, ease of following complex material, and gives a good perspective on topics with which reader might be familiar with from other sources e.g. myself I got all the fama French literature at university and followed up later with thinking and fast slow. with that perspective it made interesting reading.

perhaps not for those who are not already interested in business, finance, public policy or psychology.p

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how it all began

Much more interesting and fun than a book on ecanomics had any right to be!

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Brilliant

Wow!! That was more than just a good book, it was more like an experience.

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Non fiction has never been this interesting

Loved it, thaler conveys his intriguing findings through such engaging stories it keeps you entertained throughout. Narration was awesome also, altogether an amazing listen.

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Making Sense of Common Sense

The narrator was great, and delivered the book with the justice the ideas deserved. As someone curious about human nature and our inherent fallibility, this book communicated good arguments for why we need a better understanding of how we make decisions.

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super interesting!

for people taking their first steps into psychology and economics this is super interesting!

found out about it after listening to freakonomics podcast.

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