Predictably Irrational

Three of the ideas you’ll keep

The Clif summary of Predictably Irrational pulls out 8 insights. Here are the first three.

1. You don't judge value in absolute terms, you judge it by comparison, so deliberately strip away the 'decoy' options sellers add to make one choice look like a bargain.
2. First prices you see become anchors that quietly shape what you'll pay for years; before buying, ask whether your sense of 'fair price' is based on anything real or just the first number you encountered.
3. 'Free' hijacks your judgment and makes you chase zero-cost offers that cost you time, attention, or worse choices, weigh free items against what you actually want, not against paying.

The other 5 — and the full 13-minute summary — are in the app.

What’s inside: 11 chapters

The whole summary runs about 13 minutes, read or listened to.

1. The Truth About Relativity
2. The Fallacy of Supply and Demand
3. The Cost of Zero Cost
4. Social Norms vs. Market Norms
5. The Influence of Arousal
6. Procrastination and Self-Control
7. The High Price of Ownership
8. Keeping Doors Open
9. Expectations and the Power of Price
10. The Context of Our Character: Why We Cheat
11. Putting It to Work: Designing Around Our Irrationality