Reddit meter
Amazing Decisions
224 pages, 2019
Dan Ariely’s groundbreaking investigations into decision-making―informed by behavioral economics, neuroscience, and psychology―are explored in the graphic novel Amazing Decisions. The illustrator Matt R. Trower’s playful and expressive artwork captures the lessons of Ariely’s research as they explore the essential question: How can we make better decisions?
The narrator, Adam, faces the daily barrage of choices and deliberations as he juggles two overlapping—and often contradictory—sets of norms: social norms and market norms. These norms inform our thinking in ways we frequently don't notice, just as Adam is shadowed by the “market fairy” and the "social fairy," each compelling him to act in certain ways. This accessible introduction to behavioral economics will appeal to readers interested in psychology, neuroscience, behavioral science―and anyone who enjoys a good story!
In Amazing Decisions, Dan Ariely explores the concept of irrationality. He explains that our decisions are often not as rational as we think they are. We are influenced by a variety of factors, including our emotions, biases, and social pressures. Understanding this can help us make better decisions in the future.
Ariely digs into the power of default options in our decision-making process. He shows that we often go with the default option because it's easier, even if it's not the best choice. By being aware of this, we can challenge ourselves to explore other options and make more informed decisions.
Social norms play a big role in our decisions, as Ariely points out in his book. We often make choices based on what we think is expected of us or what others are doing. Recognizing this influence can help us break free from these norms when they're not serving our best interests.
In Amazing Decisions, Ariely emphasizes the importance of honest communication, especially when it comes to making decisions that affect others. He suggests that being open and transparent can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.
Ariely takes a look at how our emotions can cloud our judgement and lead us to make poor decisions. He advises that we should try to separate our emotions from the decision-making process to ensure we're making the best possible choices.