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  • Misbehaving

  • The Making of Behavioral Economics
  • Written by: Richard H. Thaler
  • Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
  • Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (162 ratings)

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Misbehaving cover art

Misbehaving

Written by: Richard H. Thaler
Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
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Publisher's Summary

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 Library section along with the audio.

©2015 Richard H. Thaler (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Misbehaving

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Great

Im only writing this to fill the word count, i have no idea why there is a minimum, but the book is very good

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Nothing new

The whole book seems about how to manipulate people to choose as u want instead of by themselves, rebranded nudging or liberal paternalism.

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3 people found this helpful

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awesome

great stories that make you see the world differently. now I need 1 5 different words...

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1 person found this helpful

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  • EW
  • 2020-11-13

Best book I have ever read!

Perfect mix of educational and rivetingly interesting stories.
Audible requested 15 words to post. Why?

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Captivating and educational

I just devoured this book. There were several repeats from Thinking Fast and Slow, but overall it was an amazing read!

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    4 out of 5 stars

Goooooooooooood

Just so good and I want more like this the storytelling is great and the narration is good too

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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fun, funny, fantastic

It is a smart book that makes me feel so much smarter. maybe not really but nevertheless a fantastic fun read.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

If you like economics, this book's for you ...

If you like Economics and have a basic understanding, this book's for you.

A detailed discussion about Behavioral Economics and how the field evolved. The book offers convincing theory and justification for the positions it takes.

I'm not sure why we need to prove that humans behave as humans are prone to do, irrationally at times and that not all of us will always make decisions which absolutely serve our best interest. I see this as an intuitive point we can all agree on. But apparently not, thus the book is needed.

Glad I read it. Will likely read his other famous book "Nudge" in time.

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interesting story

the book has a very interesting story to tell about how humans really behave and make economic decisions. pretty interesting

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book!

Thaler is my new favorite person. This book was excellent for anyone who is interested in how economics and psychology mix.

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