Includes bibliographical references and index

Introduction: Lessons from procrastination and medical side effects -- Paying more for less : why big bonuses don't always work -- The Meaning of labor : what Legos can teach us about the joy of work -- The IKEA effect : why we overvalue what we make -- The Not-invented here bias : why my ideas are better than yours -- The Case for revenge : what makes us seek justice? -- On adaptation : why we get used to things but not all things, and not always -- Hot or not? : adaptation, assortative mating, and the beauty market -- When a market fails : an example from online dating -- On empathy and emotion : why we respond to one person who needs help but not to many -- The Long-term effects of short-term emotions : why we shouldn't act on our negative feelings -- Lessons from our irrationalities : why we need to test everything

How can confusing directions actually help us? Why can large bonuses make CEOs less productive? Why is there such a big difference between what we think will make us happy and what really makes us happy? In his groundbreaking book Predictably Irrational, social scientist Dan Ariely revealed the multiple biases that lead us into making unwise decisions. Now, in The Upside of Irrationality, he exposes the surprising negative and positive effects irrationality can have on our lives. Focusing on our behaviors at work and in relationships, he offers new insights about how one unwise action can become a long-term habit, how we learn to love the ones we're with, and more. From our office attitudes, to our romantic relationships, to our search for purpose in life, Ariely explains how to break through our negative patterns of thought and behavior to make better decisions.--From publisher description