Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman, Rom Brafman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
Book Review: Too short, too far reaching, an okay book
Summary: 4 Stars
The authors made some big claims with the research they found, but didn't back things up as well as I would have liked. The book would have made a great lecture, or conversation, but doesn't cut it as a full fledged book.Book Review: Swayed...Yes I Am!
Summary: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed reading Sway. It is written in an engaging manner and really builds on the concepts presented. The true worth of the book is helping us see how each of us is influenced by several factors that we often overlook, particularly our own bias.
This is a good read for anyone who works with large groups of people, especially in settings where tradition is important (i.e. churches, government, or education).
Book Review: Good but not great!
Summary: 3 Stars
I was expecting a truly great book. The book sure has some very interesting information but the book just doesn't flow well. Book Review: If you have asked yourself, "Why did I/they do that?" read on...
Summary: 5 Stars
All of us have either watched someone or fallen into a death spiral ourselves with circumstances in life. The annecdotal evidence around us clearly shows we/they have made a poor choice and the final outcome is destined to have negative results. Yet, we continue our/their actions desperately committed to our beliefs. Blind to all of the indicators that a different path is needed for the desired outcome. Upon conclusion, in retrospect, we know we should have done something differently.
"Sway" is insightful and interesting. The author reveals how our beliefs and precognitive commitments "sway" our clarity. The examples are easy to identify with and have value if learning why we sometimes just can't slow down doing the wrong things.
"Sway" will cause you to pause and reflect on those times when you just couldn't let go of the wrong choice. Whether it was in your personal or professional life, there are solid examples that most prople can easily relate too.
This is an easy and entertaining read and I would recommend it to anyone who is trying to better their understanding of why we do things that simply do not make sense.
Comments are always welcome.
Book Review: Shocking, in a way..
Summary: 2 Stars
I was happily reading this book when it became apparent that the authors felt free to wander down an anti-war path, and blithely compared LBJ's war in Vietnam to Bush's war in Iraq.
What is going on nowadays? Are all book-buyers so liberal that they take this political propaganda for granted?
After all, if the authors really wanted to look at American politics, they might just have mentioned the Community Reinvestment Act (1977), passed while James Earl Carter was in the White House, and reinforced during the Clinton years.
This act, and all its dozens of amendments, basically ordered banks to extend mortgage loans to ALL, regardless of income.
In the terms of the book under review, the people who did this were suffering from "diagnosis bias" (the poor are undeservedly so) and "commitment bias" (we have always helped the poor, so now we are ordering the banks to do the same).
For decades, steadily rising housing prices disguised the mischief government had done, meddling in free markets once again. But the support for the CRA was largely "bi-partisan," although only one lonely banker turned up to testify in favor of the CRA.
Now we find ourselves in a sea of defaults, and who are the fingers being pointed at? Why, the evil bankers, of course. And, naturally, George Bush. Nobody even dares to mention the CRA, because "everyone" was in favor of it.
Now, indeed, the chickens are coming home to roost.
But these facts are not recorded in this book.