Irrationality: Why We Don't Think Straight!

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Rutgers University Press, 1994 - Philosophy - 357 pages
Why do doctors, generals, civil servants, and others consistently make wrong decisions that cause enormous harm to others? And why do you sit through a boring play just because the tickets were expensive? This iconoclastic book demonstrates that irrationality exists on a startling and hitherto unsuspected scale. Sutherland analyzes its causes in detail by drawing on many fascinating psychological experiments. He ends each chapter with brief precepts showing how to avoid irrational behavior. Never has irrationality been so well explained - or been so entertaining - as in Stuart Sutherland's witty dissection of muddled thinking. You'll wince in rueful recognition at his stories of misguided decisions in every branch of human affairs and quote the morals of his stories to your children and colleagues. Lucid, provocative, and witty, Irrationality is an invaluable guide to straight thinking!

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Contents

Introduction
1
The Wrong Impression
15
Obedience
35
Copyright

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