Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior

Book: Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior

Author(s): Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman

Grade: B+

Assuming you're anything like I am, you spend more time than advisable obsessing over why you did X, Y or Z despite its obvious insanity. Alas! This, my friend, book is for you!

Drawing from cutting edge research from "social psychology, behavioral economics and organizational behavior," the Brafman brothers examine everything from what makes love sick college freshmen stay in doomed relationships to why asking the audience is the least effective "life line" to use on France's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" (apparently the audience is highly uninclined to want to help)

This highly readable page turner is will make you re-think what you think.. again and again. I actually cringed over a couple points where highly irrational behavior resulted in disaster (ex: the Space Shuttle Challenger was launched despite the recommendation launch be delayed due to technical concerns), but was relieved and somewhat solaced by the explanations behind these decisions.

In my opinion, this should be required reading for the entire human race - none of us are immune from this craziness. At a mere 180 pages with large print, there isn't any excuse... Or at least any rational excuse :)

Man For Himself: An Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics

Book: Man For Himself: An Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics

Author: Erich Fromm

Grade: B

Disclaimer: This is a challenging work of academia and the urge to abandon ship will likely rise up every so often (particularly towards the middle). Keep reading! Avoid getting bogged down under dense or confusing chapters. There is no exam at the end and thus no need to understand every single sentence. Keep moving and the rewards will reveal themselves.

Fromm takes us on a journey into the heart of ethical debate through an extensive study in human personality. His primary argument: psychology can not divorce itself from problems of philosophy and ethics. He explores the primary purpose of man: to work to achieve productiveness (which he defines as those activities/beliefs resulting in the preservation of man). His interdisciplinary approach is thorough and exhaustive in its analysis of the various systems of government and their unique ethical dilemmas before arriving at his final conclusion.

He explores issues revolving around personality, conscience, selfishness and neurosis without resorting to cliches, biases or stereotypes. Fromm leaves the reader deep in thought at the book's conclusion.

Fascinating from start to finish, I highly recommend this to anyone interested in how we come to arrive at the values we hold close.