Table of Contents

NudgeAcknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: Humans and Econs
1. Biases and Blunders
2. Resisting Temptation
3. Following the Herd
4.When Do We Need a Nudge?
5. Choice Architecture
Part II: Money
6. Save More Tomorrow
7. Naive Investing
8. Credit Markets
9. Privatizing Social Security: Smorgasbord Style
Part III: Health
10. Prescription Drugs: Part D for Daunting
11. How to Increase Organ Donations
12. Saving the Planet
Part IV: Freedom
13. Improving School Choices
14. Should Patients Be Forced to Buy Lottery Tickets?
15. Privatizing Marriage
Part V: Extensions and Objections
16. A Dozen Nudges
17. Objections
18. The Real Third Way
19. Bonus Chapter: Twenty More Nudges
Postscript: November 2008
Notes
Bibliography
Index

About the Author

Richard H. Thaler is the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics and the director of the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business. Cass R. Sunstein is Karl N. Llewellyn Distinguished Service Professor of Jurisprudence, University of Chicago Law School and Department of Political Science.

Reviews

In the first of these two books exploring human behavior and the choices we make, organizational expert Ori Brafman (coauthor, The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations) and his psychologist brother, Rom, an organizational expert, discuss the various psychological forces (e.g., diagnosis bias and loss aversion) that cause people to act irrationally. To help illuminate their discussion, they draw on the latest research in social psychology, behavioral economics, and organizational behavior. In Nudge, Thaler (behavioral science & economics, Graduate Sch. of Business, Univ. of Chicago) and Sunstein (jurisprudence, Univ. of Chicago Law Sch.) consider how the science of choice can gently "nudge" individuals toward making life-improving decisions. They divide the text into five parts--"Humans and Econs," "Money," "Health," "Freedom," and "Extensions and Objections"--and employ numerous examples throughout. Easy to read, conversational in tone, and story-driven, Sway is suitable for public libraries. Nudge, a more research-based analysis full of practical solutions to real-life problems, is strongly recommended for public libraries.--Anita N. Jennings, Newport News P.L., VA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

One of The Strategist' s "13 Best Personal Finance Books, According to Money Experts"

"One of the few books . . . that fundamentally changes the way I think about the world." -Steven D. Levitt, coauthor of Freakonomics

"Engaging and insightful . . . The conceptual argument is powerful, and most of the authors' suggestions are common sense at its best. . . . For that we should all applaud loudly." -The New York Times Book Review

"An essential read . . . The book isn't only humorous, it's loaded with good ideas that financial-service executives, policy makers, Wall Street mavens, and all savers can use." -The Boston Globe

"This book is terrific. It will change the way you think, not only about the world around you and some of its bigger problems, but also about yourself." -Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball and Liar's Poker

"This gem of a book . . . is a must-read for anyone who wants to see both our minds and our society working better. It will improve your decisions and it will make the world a better place." -Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize-winning author of Thinking, Fast and Slow

"Utterly brilliant . . . Nudge won't nudge you-it will knock you off your feet." -Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness

"Nudge is as important a book as any I've read in perhaps twenty years. It is a book that people interested in any aspect of public policy should read. It is a book that people interested in politics should read. It is a book that people interested in ideas about human freedom should read. It is a book that people interested in promoting human welfare should read. If you're not interested in any of these topics, you can read something else." -Barry Schwartz, The American Prospect

"Engaging, informative, and thoroughly delightful." -Don Norman, author of The Design of Everyday Things and The Design of Future Things

"A wonderful book: more fun than any important book has a right to be-and yet it is truly both." -Roger Lowenstein, author of When Genius Failed

"Save the planet, save yourself. Do-gooders, policymakers, this one's for you." -Newsweek

"Great fun to read . . . Sunstein and Thaler are very persuasive." -Slate

"Nudge helps us understand our weaknesses, and suggests savvy ways to counter them." -The New York Observer

"Always stimulating . . . An entertaining book that also deeply informs." -Barron's

"Entertaining, engaging, and well written . . . Highly recommended." -Choice

"This Poor Richard's Almanack for the 21st century . . . shares both the sagacity and the witty and accessible style of its 18th-century predecessor." -Law and Politics Book Review

"There are superb insights in Nudge." -Financial Times