Why We Act This Way

The books, in order

1. 1

   Psychology · 15 min

   The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty

   Dan Ariely

   Instead of hunting for the big villain, it pays to look at the small slip repeated by lots of people: added up, it can cost more than the famous scam.

   See the summary

2. 2

   Psychology · 14 min

   The Social Animal

   Elliot Aronson

   A small reward for defending something you don't believe can change your beliefs more than a large reward, because you don't have an external excuse.

   See the summary

3. 3

   Psychology · 17 min

   The Righteous Mind

   Jonathan Haidt

   For Haidt, disagreeing about politics or religion is often not a disagreement about facts. It's about giving different weight to values like care, fairness, loyalty, or liberty.

   See the summary

4. 4

   Psychology · 16 min

   Dangerous Minds: The Psychopath Next Door

   Ana Beatriz Barbosa Silva

   Charm that is too strong too early in a relationship is not a compliment. It is something to watch closely over the following weeks.

   See the summary

5. 5

   Economy and Society · 14 min

   The Crowd

   Gustave Le Bon

   For Le Bon, anonymity gives the impression that no one will answer for what the group does, and that loosens brakes a person alone would keep on.

   See the summary

6. 6

   Economy and Society · 16 min

   The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

   Steven Pinker

   Good table manners began as a status contest among nobles in European courts; without realizing it, we inherited that impulse control for our whole lives, not just for dinner.

   See the summary

7. 7

   Psychology · 17 min

   What Every BODY Is Saying

   Joe Navarro & Marvin Karlins

   A single movement tells you little. What matters is whether it repeats and fits with other signals.

   See the summary

8. 8

   Economy and Society · 16 min

   Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows

   Melanie Joy

   According to the book, words like meat and herd help the mind forget that there is an individual with its own experience.

   See the summary