(no subject)

[telophase]

I've been listening to the audiobook version of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, an engaging book about behavioral economics that seeks to explain that humans are, at heart, irrational creatures,* albeit irrational in a set of predictable ways (which can be manipulated by people like, say, real-estate agents and marketers).

So far I've liked it a lot. But there's something quite odd about it: the narrator is Simon Jones, who played Arthur Dent in the radio and TV versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which means that I really can't shake the feeling that Arthur Dent is explaining behavioral economics to me.






* This is news? Well yes, according to much of economic theory, apparently. Or at least to the economic theory that the most virulent of the Amazon reviewers espouse. Most of the reviews are good, though.

Comments

[ninja-tech.livejournal.com]

That must be an odd feeling... Where do you listen to audio books? I find that I can't listen to them without stopping everything I am doing and spacing out, so I just gave up and actually read. *sigh*

[telophase.livejournal.com]

In the car, when doing art, and when cleaning. All things that don't occupy 100% of my attention, but if I don't have something to distract the storytelling part of my mind away, I'll zone out. Which would be Bad, especially in the case of driving. :)

I can't listen to audiobooks when the part of my brain that deals with words and constructing stories needs to be active - doing layout for a comic, or doing the roughs, when I need to be paying attention to the story and pacing. Or when planning out a picture. Once the rough sketch is down, I can change from music to spoken-word and have at it. :)

[ninja-tech.livejournal.com]

Oh! I am envying your brain powers. You know - I tried to do the same thing a couple years back while I was working on sewing cosplay, but I would get too into the task at hand and have to rewind the audio to where I could last remember. I need to teach my brain to do two things at once. Wouldn't dare do it while I drive - I would totally rear end someone if I did that.

:[

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I can listen while sewing, too! :) Not when I'm trying to figure out tricky bits, but hemming, seams, picking stuff out when I accidentally sew the sleeve on inside out or backwards, etc.

It may be part of the ADD. Distracting my brain with speech helps me focus on the task at hand.

[re-weird.livejournal.com]

I really need to check this out-I love behavioral economics so much! Economics is still a valid tool, I think, but people need to realize the weaknesses in the underlying assumptions and deal with it. I wish I could major in it but I'm not so sure my college has it. thanks for the heads up!