This article is the first in the new series in which we find the best books on psychology and human behaviour. Its inspiration comes from the fact that sometimes it's hard to find a good psychology book that is based on studies rather than just the author's personal perspectives. These books include various scientific studies written about in an easy-to-understand and interesting way.
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
Predictably irrational is a classic psychology bestseller that tries to answer various interesting questions that explore why we act the way we do. It is written by Dan Ariely - a psychology professor with a PhDs in cognitive psychology and Business Administration.
Some of the questions that the book tries to answer:
- Why we can't make ourselves do what we want to do?
- Why a 50-cent aspirin can do what a penny aspirin can't?
- Why we are dishonest, and what we can do about It?
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Thinking, Fast and Slow is another classic psychology bestseller written by the Nobel prize winner in economic science - Daniel Kahneman. The book explains how we are using two main systems of thinking - fast (intuition) and slow (conscious decision making).
With the help of various studies, it explores deeper into the understanding of how and why we make our decisions by using those two systems. It also shows how our brains use various shortcuts to decrease the use of energy and make themselves more efficient. These shortcuts can lead us to bad decisions and illogical thinking.
Why You Are Who You Are: Investigations Into Human Personality
Why you are who you are book's title manages to capture the essence of the book completely. With the help of nicely articulated scientific studies, It explores how genetics and other factors influence a person's personality traits and the path that he will most likely take.
It's written by Mark R Leary that has a Ph.D. in social psychology.
By reading this book, you will expand your understanding of what factors make a person the person that he is, how much personality traits change over time and why.
