Reviews

Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics by Richard H. Thaler

jbkarle's review against another edition

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5.0

Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics by Richard H. Thaler articulates the problems inherent in conventional economic theory. During my time as an economics major at UGA, I grew a mixed bag of fascination and disdain toward the subject: fascination because it was an empirical measurement of rational human behavior, and disdain because it was so often inaccurate, haunted by the inability to make reliable predictions or falsifiable theories. Economics is a dismal science indeed, and learning more about it didn't quell any concerns. This book is what I was looking for.


Thaler weaves the tale of the emergence of an economic theory that can better explain the world we live in. The story is part-memoir and told in a chronological order, and through that Thaler illustrates his points with colorful anecdotes and case studies backed by rigorous scientific studies.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in economics, psychology, public policy, leadership, or business.

steelydanfan's review against another edition

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funny informative inspiring slow-paced

4.0

elrey's review against another edition

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4.0

Really interesting. Humans aren't Econs - we make decisions based on supposedly irrational factors (SIFs) - economics should take this into account because we are predictably irrational.

yippeekiwiyay's review against another edition

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funny informative fast-paced

5.0

martinasaieva's review against another edition

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challenging informative slow-paced

3.5

The book focuses way too much on behavorial economics as a field, and its development over the years. The author spends a lot of time discussing his career, and honestly it's pretty boring.
The theories explained are interesting, and i enjoyed the case studies as well.
I feel like the book would have been better if it kept the same style as the first charter, without mentioning all the discussions he had with other economists.

sebph's review against another edition

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5.0

Questo libro di Thaler è una lettura fondamentale per chiunque voglia comprendere l’economia comportamentale. Con uno stile chiaro e accessibile, esplora come le decisioni economiche siano influenzate da fattori psicologici, sfidando le teorie tradizionali che vedono gli individui come completamente razionali. Un grande classico.

sebph's review against another edition

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5.0

Questo libro di Thaler è una lettura fondamentale per chiunque voglia comprendere l’economia comportamentale. Con uno stile chiaro e accessibile, esplora come le decisioni economiche siano influenzate da fattori psicologici, sfidando le teorie tradizionali che vedono gli individui come completamente razionali. Un grande classico. 

azezuma's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.25

johnhoben's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.0

ritwicksv's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

3.0