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Has anyone read the book they talk about in the article (http://www.amazon.com/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/0300122233 http://www.amazon.com/Nu

by ricree 18y ago

Has anyone read the book they talk about in the article (http://www.amazon.com/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/0300122233 http://www.amazon.com/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happi... )? It has decent reviews and seems like it might be interesting, but I never seem to have as much reading time as I'd like, and I was hoping someone here could give me a heads up on if its any good.

martian 18y ago
Yeah, this is a great book. Evidently it is also on Obama's reading list. The book talks about a few different ways to "nudge" people into the "best" behavior. One of the key points is that a default choice (for ANY consumer choice, whether health care, options on a car, or how to invest a 401k) is far and away the option most likely chosen. So the book's authors argue that it is the responsibility of politicians to help people make the right "default" choice. One great example is a particularly nasty curve on a road -- Lake Shore Drive -- in Chicago. It's a major thoroughfare along Lake Michigan, and cars were always going too fast when they came up to a sharp curve in the road. After trying all sorts of "slow down" and "sharp curve" signs, city planners opted to paint lines on the road perpendicular to the flow of traffic. The lines were set at regular intervals, but near the curve the lines were painted closer together. This gave drivers the impression that they were going too fast, and caused them to subconsciously slow down. This dramatically improved the traffic flow on this particular stretch of Lake Shore Drive and reduced accidents and fatalities. I won't comment on whether or not I agree with of all this book's theories, but it is well worth a read, and certainly shines some light on more subtle aspects of human decision making.
- endtime 18y ago
  So the book's authors argue that it is the responsibility of politicians to help people make the right "default" choice. Jeez, can you say "slippery slope"?

by ricree 18y ago

martian 18y ago

Yeah, this is a great book. Evidently it is also on Obama's reading list. The book talks about a few different ways to "nudge" people into the "best" behavior. One of the key points is that a default choice (for ANY consumer choice, whether health care, options on a car, or how to invest a 401k) is far and away the option most likely chosen. So the book's authors argue that it is the responsibility of politicians to help people make the right "default" choice. One great example is a particularly nasty curve on a road -- Lake Shore Drive -- in Chicago. It's a major thoroughfare along Lake Michigan, and cars were always going too fast when they came up to a sharp curve in the road. After trying all sorts of "slow down" and "sharp curve" signs, city planners opted to paint lines on the road perpendicular to the flow of traffic. The lines were set at regular intervals, but near the curve the lines were painted closer together. This gave drivers the impression that they were going too fast, and caused them to subconsciously slow down. This dramatically improved the traffic flow on this particular stretch of Lake Shore Drive and reduced accidents and fatalities. I won't comment on whether or not I agree with of all this book's theories, but it is well worth a read, and certainly shines some light on more subtle aspects of human decision making.

endtime 18y ago
So the book's authors argue that it is the responsibility of politicians to help people make the right "default" choice. Jeez, can you say "slippery slope"?