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Anya Weber's Reviews > Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
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I don't understand why this is a runaway bestseller--it's just not that enthralling. I've been reading lots of books lately about behavioral psychology and economics: why people make the decisions we do, economically and in other life areas. But Predictably Irrational and Made to Stick both explore these questions in a much more engaging way.
"Nudge" is mostly concerned with how companies and governments can practice what the authors term "libertarian paternalism"--gently, noncoercively pushing people toward doing something that they really want to do. For example, a company might, by default, enroll new employees in a 401K plan and put a certain salary percentage into that plan. The employees can opt out or change their contribution amount at any time, but by enrolling everyone by default, the company does an end run around its workers' natural procrastination tendencies, without forcing them into anything.
Another use of "nudging," this one on the state level, might be to require that everyone signing up for a driver's license check a box saying either "Yes, I want to be an organ donor" or "No, I don't wish to be an organ donor." Or, a state could change its laws so that people are, by default, assumed to be willing donors unless they say they don't want to. This would greatly increase the number of organs available for emergency transplants.
So, interesting stuff--but not enough to fuel an entire book. I wound up skimming quite a bit, and while some of the anecdotes are funny and interesting, many of the writers' proposals are dry unless you happen to be fascinated by the particular social or economic issue they're addressing. It's worth picking "Nudge" up to see if it grabs you; just don't be surprised if it lets go about 100 pages in.
"Nudge" is mostly concerned with how companies and governments can practice what the authors term "libertarian paternalism"--gently, noncoercively pushing people toward doing something that they really want to do. For example, a company might, by default, enroll new employees in a 401K plan and put a certain salary percentage into that plan. The employees can opt out or change their contribution amount at any time, but by enrolling everyone by default, the company does an end run around its workers' natural procrastination tendencies, without forcing them into anything.
Another use of "nudging," this one on the state level, might be to require that everyone signing up for a driver's license check a box saying either "Yes, I want to be an organ donor" or "No, I don't wish to be an organ donor." Or, a state could change its laws so that people are, by default, assumed to be willing donors unless they say they don't want to. This would greatly increase the number of organs available for emergency transplants.
So, interesting stuff--but not enough to fuel an entire book. I wound up skimming quite a bit, and while some of the anecdotes are funny and interesting, many of the writers' proposals are dry unless you happen to be fascinated by the particular social or economic issue they're addressing. It's worth picking "Nudge" up to see if it grabs you; just don't be surprised if it lets go about 100 pages in.
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Started Reading
October 18, 2009
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October 18, 2009
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Thomas
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rated it 2 stars
Dec 23, 2017 03:51AM
I'm reading the book now and getting the same feeling. The concept is good and important, but the book is feeling repetitive and a little boring.
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Ditto... Odd, I’m listening to the audio edition and it feels like it’s taking longer than other books of the same length 🤔
Me too, I skipped to some of the later chapters and found a few themes repeat (design & order of choices).
Good Review...my feelings about this Book are about the same. Interesting read and does get me to think somewhat, however it is dry and probably also a bit outdated now
It’s repetitive and I had begun reading with great expectations! Disappointed at the lack of depth
This is exactly what happened to me.
Can anyone please suggest me some books related to psychology or behavioral psychology. I just finished Thinking fast and slow. Thanks in advance.
Nudge: Improving Decision About Health, Wealth, and Happiness — by Richard ThalerOutliers: The Story of Success — by Malcolm Gladwell
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions — by Dan Ariely
The Halo Effect: . . . and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers — by Phil Rosenzweig
The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone — Especially Ourselves — by Dan Ariely
The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias — by Dolly Chugh
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds — by Michael Lewis
Thinking, Fast and Slow — by Daniel Kahneman
Superforecasters: The Art and Science of Prediction — by Philip Tetlock and Dan Gardner
I would have plagiarized your review. Spot on. Great concept, but wasn’t as engaging as “Thinking: fast and slow”
I completely agree with your review.
I cannot agree more. I cannot stand a 300-page book that can easily finish explaining the whole thing in 50 pages instead. I wish I trusted your review before starting the book.
Haven’t read the book, Anhishek, but your description that you began reading it with “Great Expectations” reminded me of a slow book by that name, which was required high school reading.
Just finished skimming the last 100 pages. I couldn't really find myself drawn to it- hard to pay attention or grasp - it just seemed long and I wanted to just be done with it as I try to read books every couple of weeks.
What a perfect review for this book. Had the exact same thoughts.
Thanks a lot for your review. I’ll choose Thinking fast and slow then
The first couple of chapters had me, however it began to feel redundant, then it got to the point where I was paying more attention to folding laundry than the audio book. Finally gave up. Gave it a four star, the info is good, just couldn’t stay focused.
I agree with consensus on Nudge. If you’re looking to build on Thinking Fast and Slow, check out Jonathan Haidt’s “The Righteous Mind.” Really takes it to next level.
Yet another book that should have been an article.
I felt the exact same way! Add on for me the book picked up towards the end a bit but that's about it.
It's on audible and the other 2 booked you mentioned are not. I don't read books anymore, I only listen to audiobooks and there are less options in audiobooks.
