You make logical decisions right, based on a cold, rational analysis of facts and likely outcomes? Think again. Dan Ariely’s engaging book explores the emerging field of behavior economics – of which Ariely is a professor at MIT – for the layperson. The researcher shares results of experiments he oversaw at several major universities on the subject of honest, the power of free, how sexual arousal effects decision making, and more. Time and again he and his research partners proved that their subjects’ decision making was, well, predictably irrational.

“Our irrational behaviors are neither random nor senseless, they are systematic and predictable,” Ariely wrote. More interesting maybe than the fact that the Id makes most of our important decisions is that we’re so totally unaware and that our approach to governing and doing business is born of a near-total lack of understanding of why we do what we do. The conclusions Ariely reaches in Predictably Irrational have far reaching implications and I doubt anyone could read even a chapter without giving serious thought to choices they have made and the thinking behind them.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. It would be the first rational decision you’ve made in a while.