Irrationally Yours

On Missing Socks, Pickup Lines,

and Other Existential Puzzles

Dan Ariely
WITH CARTOONS BY
WILLIAM HAEFELI

(Allprofits from this book support research)

HARPERPERENNIAL
NEW YORK » LONDON « TORONTO • SYDNEY • NEW DELHI » AUCKLAND
 Contents

Introduction xi

Based on "Ask Ariely" column in The Wall Street Journal

On Escalation of Commitments 1
On the Art and Joy of Saying No 2
On Netflix Dissatisfaction 5
On Dieting 7
On Forgotten and Forgiven Loans 10
On Marriage and Economic Models 12
On Social Networks and Social Norms 14
On Kopi Luwak Coffee 16
On Wedding Ring Woes 19
On Social Violations and Tattle-Telling 22
On Variety as a Memory Enhancement 24
On the Benefits of a Crowded Space 26
On Hiring a Good (and Free) Advisor 29
On the Garlic Effect 31
On Giving to the Poor 32
On Grandparents and Agendas 35
On Outsmarting Bathroom Goers 38
On Gossip as a Social Coordination Mechanism 40
On Friends with Benefits 41
On Ruminating While Running 44
On the Joy of Getting Things Done 45
On the Art of Multitasking 48
On Galling Home 50
On Toasts and the Ideal Superstition 52
On Pickup Lines and Compliments 54
On the Illusion of Labor 56
On Misery and Shared Humanity 58
On Flashy Cars 59
On Dressing Down 61
On Exploring the Unknown 63
On Trying Out Relationships 65
On Divorce and Good Decisions 67
On Investing in Financial Advisors 70
On Justice and Sharing Food with Squirrels .....72
On Social Life and the Internet 74
On Expectations in Dating and Hiring 76
On Learning to Be Better Decision Makers (Maybe) 78
On the Power of Expectations 80
On Communicating Safety 83
On the Perfect Gift 84
On Eating Lessons and Kids 87
On Useful Complaining 89
On Prices and Bidding Frenzy 92
On Transmission of Stress, and Caring for the Old 94
On Luck as a Multiple-Stage Number Game 96
On Socks and the Psychology of the Supernatural 98
On Tithing 100
On Midlife Cliches 103
On Cheaters and Alibis 105
On Breakfast Regrets 108
On Nighttime Activities 110
On Playing Parents 113
On Joint Accounts 116
On the Bordeaux Battlefield 119
On Traffic Jam Altruism 122
On (die Waiting 125
On Forcing Decisions with Coins 128
On Trashy Norms 130
On Making Smoking Feel Dangerous 134
On Adventures as Investments 135
On the Quality and Not the Quantity of Irrationality 137
On "Helping" People Retire 138
On the Morality of Correcting Mistakes 139
On Who We Are and Who We Want toBe 140
On the Value of Splitting Checks 142
On Staplers and Quarters 145
On Taking Time for Exercise 147
On Memory 150
On Books and Audiobooks 152
On Souls and Pascal's Wager 155
On Showing Off the Price 157
On Topics and Teachers 159
On (the Lack of) Self-Control 162
On Three Building Blocks of a Balancing Act 165
On Wasting Time Deciding 166
On Büffet ROI 168
On Asking the Right Questions 171
On Doughnuts and the Locus of Free Will 174
On the Most Optimistic Day of the Year 175
On Emotional Investing in the Stock Market 176
On Commuting and Adaptation , 179
On Riding Your Dryer to Tucson 182
On Promotions and the Illusion of Progress 184
On Distance from Emotion and Caring 187
On Predicting Happiness 189
New Questions and Advice
On the Curse of Knowledge 194
On Bad Sex 196
On Mice and Markets 198
On Letting Loose 200
On Shrinking and Honesty 201
On High Heels 202
On Rules as a Way to Overcome Negative Signals 203
On Taxes and Mitzvahs 205
On Bull Service 208
On Loss Aversion and Sports 209