| Irrationality |  | Author: Stuart Sutherland
Publisher: Pinter & Martin Ltd.
Category: Book
List Price: £8.99
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Seller: Kennys First Class
Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 437
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9
ISBN: 1905177070
Dewey Decimal Number: 150
EAN: 9781905177073
Publication Date: January 10, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 39
 Essential reading for all social scientists March 13, 2010
M. J. Thornhill (London, UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I studied a social science degree during 1992, when this book was published. How I wish I had heard about it then!
Alas, it's compartmentalised in the "psychology" section of the bookshop... how irrational! Q.E.D.
This book is an excellent summary of the key (not all) causes of human irrationality, focusing on studies which are politically non-contenious. Consequently, you - the reader - have to exercise caution before you conflate the results into your view of real life!
My conclusion of the book is that nothing gets to rationality quicker than proper statistical analysis and a good grasp of probability theory. I was particularly excited by Sutherland's dismissal of "human intuition".
I have spent years ranting against the bigotry that passes off for public policy debate and implementation in the UK. I have always suspected that amateurism and gentle corruption have played their part. Greenaway et al referred to "disjointed incrementalism" based on rational research. Sutherland gets to the same conclusion on a different path, but goes wider: behaviour that looks political might not be political, but irrationality. One might say that cock-up is more likely than conspiracy.
The contents page (now visible from Amazon) shows the book's concise and focussed structure, analysing the key issues about irrationality. It is an excellent book and will challenge the way you think.
I think it should be mandatory reading for all teenagers still at school and for all politicians (at least once every two years while serving as an MP).
A must-read March 11, 2010
ozdemir Mahir sinan
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is one of the best books I have ever had the chance of reading. A must-read for everybody, showing very clearly how fallible and folly we can be when it comes to thinking and deriving rational conclusions. That sort of books should be taught at school where we are doctrinated how to think irrationally.
 Is it rational to buy this book based on this review? February 17, 2010
Sir Bob
Or when combined with any of the others for this book? What can you tell from what is 'helpful', what a 4 or 5 star rating might tell you and what value is ascribed to the reviews. (How rational is it I review this anyway)
That's the thinking this book is dealing with and lumme! it deals with it all right. Some people have said this is 'too' detailed but I think the detail is required because each subject is presented with theories, examples, and conclusions, something some popular science books forget these days. You are left with the feeling that the topic has been explained fully and completely which points to good jounalistic and scientific practice from the author.
The book presents the story of rationality from initial discussions of what is rational anyway and then each chapter takes us in to a new area where either rationality can be shown to be markedly absent much of the time or explores one of the causes of irrationality.
I did find that book started off with a positive and enthusiastic attitude but towards the end I almost felt as if the author was getting exasperated with the human race. It's unkind but there were a few places where the tone slipped from one of amused observation and turned to annoyance that people behave in such ways. Sometimes it's difficult for people to beleive humans will act against human nature when provided with logical reasoning. I get annoyed by that myself but it's an annoying trait and should be kept out of any study of this kind.
I dived in to this and loved the first half of the book and then had serious trouble to continue as I felt the author talking down to me. If you can get over that hurdle then this is a lively, funny in parts, and accurate study of one of the most baffling parts of human psychology.
 Irrational Exuberance February 5, 2010
R. McCarthy (London)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I seem to find myself with a minority opinion here. There has been a deluge of science based books published in the last few reads... some great, some not. This book falls into the latter category.
My main criticism is that I didn't find the majority of facts, experiments or observations that new or interesting. I always had the feeling I had read something similar before. But for all that, it is well written and an easy read but there are far better books out there.....Freakenomics,Quirkology,Predictably Irrational
Riveting read & oh, how absolutely true February 3, 2010
A. R. V. Riding
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Wonderful book, really opens ones eyes to what is going on and how people make decisions or take actions - including oneself. For a long time I have wondered why most people act in such silly and irrational ways, well, now I know. As the book was first written nearly 20 years ago, some of the examples seem a bit dated, but that is no problem, people haven't changed much in the past 20 years and you can just look around you and read/view the news to see that people around the world are still making the same mistakes time & time again. It will also help me understand my own actions better and assist in making my own decisions/actions more rational. Should be compulsory reading for anyone in public life or with decision making responsibilities.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 39
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