Commenter Contest and More Misc. Stuff
I ended up with an extra, brand-new copy of this book, Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
This is how Publisher’s Weekly describes the book:
Irrational behavior is a part of human nature, but as MIT professor Ariely has discovered in 20 years of researching behavioral economics, people tend to behave irrationally in a predictable fashion. Drawing on psychology and economics, behavioral economics can show us why cautious people make poor decisions about sex when aroused, why patients get greater relief from a more expensive drug over its cheaper counterpart and why honest people may steal office supplies or communal food, but not money. According to Ariely, our understanding of economics, now based on the assumption of a rational subject, should, in fact, be based on our systematic, unsurprising irrationality. Ariely argues that greater understanding of previously ignored or misunderstood forces (emotions, relativity and social norms) that influence our economic behavior brings a variety of opportunities for reexamining individual motivation and consumer choice, as well as economic and educational policy. Ariely’s intelligent, exuberant style and thought-provoking arguments make for a fascinating, eye-opening read.
Sounds cool, doesn’t it? Haven’t read it yet, but I look forward to it.
Since I have this extra copy, I figure I’d have fun with it and do a giveaway. So what I’ll do is have a commenter contest. Starting from today, every comment made for the next two weeks will be an entry into the book giveaway contest. Anywhere in the world is fair game, I will pay to ship the book to you regardless of where you live should you win the contest. The catch? I’m not going to reveal the judging criteria. It could be sheer quantity, it could be intellectual insight, it could be humor, it could be a random drawing, or it could be a combination of one or more of the above. Or maybe I haven’t come up with the criteria yet. I’m not telling. Just comment away and see what happens.
Also, there’s no time limit for the posts you comment on. You can comment as far back as my very first blog post if you want. Hell, you can even comment on the “About” page. If commenter frequency increases during these two weeks I’ll make the giveraway a regular event.
Also, I’m travelling to Sweden and Amsterdam in August. If anyone lives in those places, has lived in those places or has even just travelled there, please share your insights, advice and travel tips with me in the comments section below or via email at t (at) therawness (dot) com.
Bonus Videos from the book author:
Here he talks about online dating and how the less specific you are about yourself, the more likely people are going to be to fill in the gaps with positive, appealing information. Tell me if his logic sounds familiar.
Here he discusses who the best presidential candidate is. Note that he commends Obama for using a lottery system for a one-on-one dinner to raise funds rather than a traditional, large fundraising dinner where everyone who pays gets to attend. Using the lottery system led to a much more passionate response and increased fundraising. And what is a lottery an example of? Click here for a hint.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
on the off chance that the first responder takes all … here you go.
I just want to hear about Sweden; I was supposed go there this spring but the dollar’s spectacular freefall put that on hold indefinitely. Though I hope to earn enough with my second job (siphoning gas and stealing construction materials) so that next spring is a possibility.
never before has the world beheld a more underhanded ploy at comment whoring. well played, my freng. well played.
that being said, ill bite. i like this blog.
“I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”
“Underhanded?!”
I’m insulted! I was going for “shamelessly blatant” attempt at comment whoring, not underhanded!!
The worst is how I actually ended up with an extra copy of the book. I went to the bookstore a few months back, noticed the book, and bought it. Last week I went back to the bookstore, noticed it again, forgot I already saw and bought it, and ended up buying it again. Didn’t realize my goof until yesterday after I lose the receipt. Sadly, I accidentally re-buy things a lot so there may be more of these contests to come.
T.’s last blog post..Commenter Contest and More Misc. Stuff
I like this. It sounds like a synthesis of a lot of articles I’ve been reading on NewScientist, NYT, etc. His observations are dead on about online dating and expectations of Obama despite the fact that people know so little about him. It is true that the less we know, the more we are inclined to fill in the blanks with favorable impressions. The more we learn about someone, the less we are able to do so. Since most people are average and “exceptional” people are so few, that idealization cannot happen as readily with full self-disclosure.
I did quite a bit of online dating in my youth (I’ve been online since I was 12), and the first man I fell in love with had such an aura of “mystery” about him. Everything he told me was in snippets. He listened to Bad Religion, but what other bands did he like? He slept with a lot of women, but why does he never talk about it, or them? How can I find out more about him when he seems to never be around? I didn’t even see a picture of him until two years after I had fallen, but I stalked everyone that he talked to in order to find out more. I was obsessed with him in a very juvenile, angsty — and yes, irrational — way. I simply had to know more.
Thinking back on it, I was always quick to full self-disclosure. The men who fell in love with me said they liked my honesty, which seems to run counter to the argument that one should hold back in romance. Maybe I was more “complex,” and so despite my inability to hold things back, there was still more pieces of the puzzle for them to uncover. I had a “story of my life” that I would tell to anyone who was willing to put up with me, but I held the ultimate prize (to men, that is) of my body at an arm’s length until I knew for sure that he loved with me. And I was intuitive enough even as a high school girl to know when a man truly was in love.
P.S. I love commenting, but I can’t take up blogging. No, never again will I write an online journal.
Being a native Swede this post piqued my curiosity, why do you want to travel to Sweden? The whole “blonde bombshell with big tits humping everything within reach” thing is pretty much a myth, you know.
Hope:
I think in general, at least in the earlier stages of a relationship, guys are less likely to disqualify a woman than vice versa. Especially if (a) she’s hot and (b) they haven’t had sex yet. Of course after sex has been had and the relationship has gone on a while, this dynamic gets reversed and the women will be more likely to stick around no matter what.
Fredrik:
based on the Swedish people I’ve met along with what I’ve read of Sweden, I’ve become curious about visiting there. Also it’s not that typical a vacation destination for Americans, which made me even more curious.
T.’s last blog post..Commenter Contest and More Misc. Stuff
I sure hope I will win the book.
Dan
Dan Ariely’s last blog post..Videos at last
Of course after sex has been had and the relationship has gone on a while, this dynamic gets reversed and the women will be more likely to stick around no matter what.
I’m not sure if I agree with that. Some women will be in full bonding mode, but others will stay only until the next thing comes along. It’s been noted that most of the divorces and relationship break-ups are initiated by women nowadays. This may be partly what is contributing to the modern dynamic between men and women of strife and enmity.