Success and Luck
Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Success and Luck
Buy for $20.00
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Robert H. Frank
-
By:
-
Robert H. Frank
About this listen
How important is luck in economic success? No question more reliably divides conservatives from liberals. As conservatives correctly observe, people who amass great fortunes are almost always talented and hardworking. But liberals are also correct to note that countless others have those same qualities yet never earn much. In recent years, social scientists have discovered that chance plays a much larger role in important life outcomes than most people imagine. In Success and Luck, bestselling author and New York Times economics columnist Robert Frank explores the surprising implications of those findings to show why the rich underestimate the importance of luck in success - and why that hurts everyone, even the wealthy.
Frank describes how, in a world increasingly dominated by winner-take-all markets, chance opportunities and trivial initial advantages often translate into much larger ones - and enormous income differences - over time; how false beliefs about luck persist, despite compelling evidence against them; and how myths about personal success and luck shape individual and political choices in harmful ways.
But, Frank argues, we could decrease the inequality driven by sheer luck by adopting simple, unintrusive policies that would free up trillions of dollars each year - more than enough to fix our crumbling infrastructure, expand healthcare coverage, fight global warming, and reduce poverty, all without requiring painful sacrifices from anyone. If this sounds implausible, you'll be surprised to discover that the solution requires only a few, uncontroversial steps.
Compellingly listenable, Success and Luck shows how a more accurate understanding of the role of chance in life could lead to better, richer, and fairer economies and societies.
©2016 Robert H. Frank (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Darwin Economy
- Liberty, Competition, and the Common Good
- By: Robert H Frank
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 95
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 78
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 75
Who was the greater economist--Adam Smith or Charles Darwin? The question seems absurd. Darwin, after all, was a naturalist, not an economist. But Robert Frank, New York Times economics columnist and best-selling author of The Economic Naturalist, predicts that within the next century Darwin will unseat Smith as the intellectual founder of economics.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Distracting and Misleading.
- By Steven on 10-22-11
By: Robert H Frank
-
Different
- Gender and Our Primate Heritage
- By: Frans de Waal
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 130
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 111
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 110
In Different, world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal draws on decades of observation and studies of both human and animal behavior to argue that despite the linkage between gender and biological sex, biology does not automatically support the traditional gender roles in human societies. While humans and other primates do share some behavioral differences, biology offers no justification for existing gender inequalities.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
de Waal weighs in on nature & environment inputs
- By Bob on 06-03-22
By: Frans de Waal
-
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
- The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman
- By: Richard P. Feynman
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,824
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,570
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,562
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out is a magnificent treasury of the best short works of Richard P. Feynman, from interviews and speeches to lectures and printed articles. A sweeping, wide-ranging collection, it presents an intimate and fascinating view of a life in science - a life like no other. From his ruminations on science in our culture to his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, this book will delight anyone interested in the world of ideas.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting, but material is covered in better book.
- By Erlend on 04-06-16
-
The Meritocracy Trap
- How America's Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles the Middle Class, and Devours the Elite
- By: Daniel Markovits
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 432
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 356
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 349
It is an axiom of American life that advantage should be earned through ability and effort. Even as the country divides itself at every turn, the meritocratic ideal - that social and economic rewards should follow achievement rather than breeding - reigns supreme. Both Democrats and Republicans insistently repeat meritocratic notions. Meritocracy cuts to the heart of who we are. It sustains the American dream.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A well-argued theory
- By Fountain of Chris on 09-20-19
By: Daniel Markovits
-
The Coming Wave
- Technology, Power, and the Twenty-First Century's Greatest Dilemma
- By: Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar - contributor
- Narrated by: Mustafa Suleyman
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 824
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 714
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 713
We are approaching a critical threshold in the history of our species. Everything is about to change. Soon you will live surrounded by AIs. They will organize your life, operate your business, and run core government services. You will live in a world of DNA printers and quantum computers, engineered pathogens and autonomous weapons, robot assistants and abundant energy.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Click bait
- By Buyer on 09-11-23
By: Mustafa Suleyman, and others
-
The Origins of Totalitarianism
- By: Hannah Arendt
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 23 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 933
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 756
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 744
This classic, definitive account of totalitarianism traces the emergence of modern racism as an "ideological weapon for imperialism", beginning with the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe in the 19th century and continuing through the New Imperialism period from 1884 to World War I.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Vast and intricate analysis of horror
- By Roger on 08-04-08
By: Hannah Arendt
-
The Darwin Economy
- Liberty, Competition, and the Common Good
- By: Robert H Frank
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 95
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 78
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 75
Who was the greater economist--Adam Smith or Charles Darwin? The question seems absurd. Darwin, after all, was a naturalist, not an economist. But Robert Frank, New York Times economics columnist and best-selling author of The Economic Naturalist, predicts that within the next century Darwin will unseat Smith as the intellectual founder of economics.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Distracting and Misleading.
- By Steven on 10-22-11
By: Robert H Frank
-
Different
- Gender and Our Primate Heritage
- By: Frans de Waal
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 130
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 111
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 110
In Different, world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal draws on decades of observation and studies of both human and animal behavior to argue that despite the linkage between gender and biological sex, biology does not automatically support the traditional gender roles in human societies. While humans and other primates do share some behavioral differences, biology offers no justification for existing gender inequalities.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
de Waal weighs in on nature & environment inputs
- By Bob on 06-03-22
By: Frans de Waal
-
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
- The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman
- By: Richard P. Feynman
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,824
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,570
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,562
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out is a magnificent treasury of the best short works of Richard P. Feynman, from interviews and speeches to lectures and printed articles. A sweeping, wide-ranging collection, it presents an intimate and fascinating view of a life in science - a life like no other. From his ruminations on science in our culture to his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, this book will delight anyone interested in the world of ideas.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting, but material is covered in better book.
- By Erlend on 04-06-16
-
The Meritocracy Trap
- How America's Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles the Middle Class, and Devours the Elite
- By: Daniel Markovits
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 432
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 356
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 349
It is an axiom of American life that advantage should be earned through ability and effort. Even as the country divides itself at every turn, the meritocratic ideal - that social and economic rewards should follow achievement rather than breeding - reigns supreme. Both Democrats and Republicans insistently repeat meritocratic notions. Meritocracy cuts to the heart of who we are. It sustains the American dream.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A well-argued theory
- By Fountain of Chris on 09-20-19
By: Daniel Markovits
-
The Coming Wave
- Technology, Power, and the Twenty-First Century's Greatest Dilemma
- By: Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar - contributor
- Narrated by: Mustafa Suleyman
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 824
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 714
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 713
We are approaching a critical threshold in the history of our species. Everything is about to change. Soon you will live surrounded by AIs. They will organize your life, operate your business, and run core government services. You will live in a world of DNA printers and quantum computers, engineered pathogens and autonomous weapons, robot assistants and abundant energy.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Click bait
- By Buyer on 09-11-23
By: Mustafa Suleyman, and others
-
The Origins of Totalitarianism
- By: Hannah Arendt
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 23 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 933
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 756
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 744
This classic, definitive account of totalitarianism traces the emergence of modern racism as an "ideological weapon for imperialism", beginning with the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe in the 19th century and continuing through the New Imperialism period from 1884 to World War I.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Vast and intricate analysis of horror
- By Roger on 08-04-08
By: Hannah Arendt
-
The Selfish Gene
- By: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,931
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,546
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,468
Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Better than print!
- By J. D. May on 07-31-12
By: Richard Dawkins
-
Catching Fire
- How Cooking Made Us Human
- By: Richard Wrangham
- Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 917
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 635
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 635
Ever since Darwin and The Descent of Man, the existence of humans has been attributed to our intelligence and adaptability. But in Catching Fire, renowned primatologist Richard Wrangham presents a startling alternative: our evolutionary success is the result of cooking. In a groundbreaking theory of our origins, Wrangham shows that the shift from raw to cooked foods was the key factor in human evolution.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating book about early human development...
- By KevinH on 12-10-09
By: Richard Wrangham
-
The Economic Weapon
- The Rise of Sanctions as a Tool of Modern War
- By: Nicholas Mulder
- Narrated by: Liam Gerrard
- Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 108
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 82
Economic sanctions dominate the landscape of world politics today. First developed in the early twentieth century as a way of exploiting the flows of globalization to defend liberal internationalism, their appeal is that they function as an alternative to war. This view, however, ignores the dark paradox at their core: designed to prevent war, economic sanctions are modeled on devastating techniques of warfare.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
History of sanctions during the early 20th century
- By Mehdi Mollahasani on 03-05-22
By: Nicholas Mulder
-
The Myth of Sisyphus
- By: Albert Camus
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 969
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 805
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 806
One of the most influential works of this century, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays is a crucial exposition of existentialist thought. Influenced by works such as Don Juan and the novels of Kafka, these essays begin with a meditation on suicide; the question of living or not living in a universe devoid of order or meaning.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brilliant work, excellently narrated
- By Richard B. on 04-30-19
By: Albert Camus
-
White Rage
- The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
- By: Carol Anderson
- Narrated by: Pamela Gibson
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,015
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,605
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,585
As Ferguson, Missouri, erupted in August 2014 and media commentators across the ideological spectrum referred to the angry response of African Americans as 'Black rage', historian Carol Anderson wrote a remarkable op-ed in the Washington Post showing that this was, instead, 'white rage at work. With so much attention on the flames,' she wrote, 'everyone had ignored the kindling.'
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good History, Was Hoping For More Insight
- By Mike on 09-08-16
By: Carol Anderson
-
Identity
- The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment
- By: Francis Fukuyama
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 755
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 643
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 631
In 2014, Francis Fukuyama wrote that American institutions were in decay, as the state was progressively captured by powerful interest groups. Two years later, his predictions were borne out by the rise to power of a series of political outsiders whose economic nationalism and authoritarian tendencies threatened to destabilize the entire international order. These populist nationalists seek direct charismatic connection to “the people”, who are usually defined in narrow identity terms that offer an irresistible call to an in-group and exclude large parts of the population as a whole.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Robotic narrator
- By Shahin on 09-19-18
By: Francis Fukuyama
-
The Tyranny of Merit
- What's Become of the Common Good?
- By: Michael J. Sandel
- Narrated by: Michael J. Sandel
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 923
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 765
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 758
The world-renowned philosopher and author of the best-selling Justice explores the central question of our time: What has become of the common good? World-renowned philosopher Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the crises that are upending our world, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalization and rising inequality. Sandel shows the hubris a meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgment it imposes on those left behind, and traces the dire consequences across a wide swath of American life.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Enlightening
- By Robert McIntosh on 09-18-20
-
Thinking, Fast and Slow
- By: Daniel Kahneman
- Narrated by: Patrick Egan
- Length: 20 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 19,599
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 16,261
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 16,105
The guru to the gurus at last shares his knowledge with the rest of us. Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman's seminal studies in behavioral psychology, behavioral economics, and happiness studies have influenced numerous other authors, including Steven Pinker and Malcolm Gladwell. In Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman at last offers his own, first book for the general public. It is a lucid and enlightening summary of his life's work. It will change the way you think about thinking. Two systems drive the way we think and make choices, Kahneman explains....
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Difficult Listen, but Probably a Great Read
- By Mike Kircher on 01-12-12
By: Daniel Kahneman
-
Drive
- The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
- By: Daniel H. Pink
- Narrated by: Daniel H. Pink
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7,919
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,845
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,829
Most people believe that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money - the carrot-and-stick approach. That's a mistake, says Daniel H. Pink (author of To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others). In this provocative and persuasive new book, he asserts that the secret to high performance and satisfaction - at work, at school, and at home - is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not as good as A Whole New Mind
- By Michael O'Donnell on 04-30-10
By: Daniel H. Pink
-
The Theory of Moral Sentiments
- By: Adam Smith
- Narrated by: Michael Lunts
- Length: 16 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 123
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 111
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 109
The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) was the first major text by Adam Smith who, seven years later, was to publish what was to become one of the major economic classics, The Wealth of Nations (1776). However, Smith regarded The Theory of Moral Sentiments as his most important work because in it he identified the profound human instinct to act not necessarily in self-interest but through, as he phrased it, a ‘mutual sympathy of sentiments’.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What Makes Humans Humane
- By Zeno on 10-06-18
By: Adam Smith
-
Network Propaganda
- Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics
- By: Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, Hal Roberts
- Narrated by: Steve Menasche
- Length: 17 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 58
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 52
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 51
A conventional wisdom has emerged since the election of Donald Trump in 2016 that new technologies and their manipulation by foreign actors played a decisive role in his victory and are responsible for the sense of a "post-truth" moment in which disinformation and propaganda thrives. Network Propaganda challenges that received wisdom through the most comprehensive study yet published on media coverage of American presidential politics from the start of the election cycle in April 2015 to the one-year anniversary of the Trump presidency.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Biased biased biased
- By Maria Stevens on 01-17-20
By: Yochai Benkler, and others
-
The Alignment Problem
- Machine Learning and Human Values
- By: Brian Christian
- Narrated by: Brian Christian
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 854
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 697
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 692
Today's "machine-learning" systems, trained by data, are so effective that we've invited them to see and hear for us - and to make decisions on our behalf. But alarm bells are ringing. Systems cull résumés until, years later, we discover that they have inherent gender biases. Algorithms decide bail and parole - and appear to assess black and white defendants differently. We can no longer assume that our mortgage application, or even our medical tests, will be seen by human eyes. And autonomous vehicles on our streets can injure or kill.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Required reading for any AI course
- By ehan ferguson on 11-16-20
By: Brian Christian
Related to this topic
-
A Bigger Prize
- How We Can Do Better Than the Competition
- By: Margaret Heffernan
- Narrated by: Margaret Heffernan
- Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 38
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 30
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 30
From the cranberry bogs of Massachusetts to the classrooms of Singapore and Finland, from tiny start-ups to global engineering firms and beloved American organizations like Ocean Spray, Eileen Fisher, Gore, and Boston Scientific, Heffernan discovers ways of living and working that foster creativity, spark innovation, reinforce our social fabric, and feel so much better than winning.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Margaret Heffernan is brilliant!
- By Eric Willingham on 06-09-16
-
Average is Over
- Powering America Beyond the Age of the Great Stagnation
- By: Tyler Cowen
- Narrated by: Andrew Garman
- Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 382
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 311
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 308
The widening gap between rich and poor means dealing with one big, uncomfortable truth: If you're not at the top, you're at the bottom. The global labor market is changing radically thanks to growth at the high end and the low. About three quarters of the jobs created in the United States since the great recession pay only a bit more than minimum wage. Still, the United States has more millionaires and billionaires than any country ever, and we continue to mint them.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Disappointing analysis of future
- By JKBart on 12-10-13
By: Tyler Cowen
-
Originals
- How Non-Conformists Move the World
- By: Adam Grant, Sheryl Sandberg - foreword
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders, Susan Denaker
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7,260
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,162
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,137
With Give and Take, Adam Grant not only introduced a landmark new paradigm for success but also established himself as one of his generation’s most compelling and provocative thought leaders. In Originals he again addresses the challenge of improving the world, but now from the perspective of becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battle conformity, and buck outdated traditions. How can we originate new ideas, policies, and practices without risking it all?
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting, but not science
- By Lloyd Fassett on 03-14-16
By: Adam Grant, and others
-
Friend and Foe
- When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both
- By: Adam D. Galinsky, Maurice E. Schweitzer
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 327
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 275
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 270
In Friend and Foe, researchers Galinsky and Schweitzer explain why this debate misses the mark. Rather than being hardwired to compete or cooperate, humans have evolved to do both. It is only by learning how to strike the right balance between these two forces that we can improve our long-term relationships and get more of what we want.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Unexpected
- By Garron Rose on 01-05-16
By: Adam D. Galinsky, and others
-
The Why Axis
- Hidden Motives and the Undiscovered Economics of Everyday Life
- By: Uri Gneezy, John A. List
- Narrated by: Eric Martin
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 92
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 79
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 79
Uri Gneezy and John List are like the anthropologists who spend months in the field studying the people in their native habitats. But in their case they embed themselves in our messy world to try and solve big, difficult problems, such as the gap between rich and poor students and the violence plaguing inner city schools; the real reasons people discriminate; whether women are really less competitive than men; and how to correctly price products and services. Their field experiments show how economic incentives can change outcomes.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Some Interesting Insights But Poor Science
- By Harold Toomey on 06-09-23
By: Uri Gneezy, and others
-
The Upside of Irrationality
- The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home
- By: Dan Ariely
- Narrated by: Simon Jones
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,667
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 999
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 989
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 and eye-opening truths about what really motivates us on the job.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not as good as the first
- By Stephen on 06-20-10
By: Dan Ariely
-
A Bigger Prize
- How We Can Do Better Than the Competition
- By: Margaret Heffernan
- Narrated by: Margaret Heffernan
- Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 38
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 30
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 30
From the cranberry bogs of Massachusetts to the classrooms of Singapore and Finland, from tiny start-ups to global engineering firms and beloved American organizations like Ocean Spray, Eileen Fisher, Gore, and Boston Scientific, Heffernan discovers ways of living and working that foster creativity, spark innovation, reinforce our social fabric, and feel so much better than winning.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Margaret Heffernan is brilliant!
- By Eric Willingham on 06-09-16
-
Average is Over
- Powering America Beyond the Age of the Great Stagnation
- By: Tyler Cowen
- Narrated by: Andrew Garman
- Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 382
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 311
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 308
The widening gap between rich and poor means dealing with one big, uncomfortable truth: If you're not at the top, you're at the bottom. The global labor market is changing radically thanks to growth at the high end and the low. About three quarters of the jobs created in the United States since the great recession pay only a bit more than minimum wage. Still, the United States has more millionaires and billionaires than any country ever, and we continue to mint them.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Disappointing analysis of future
- By JKBart on 12-10-13
By: Tyler Cowen
-
Originals
- How Non-Conformists Move the World
- By: Adam Grant, Sheryl Sandberg - foreword
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders, Susan Denaker
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7,260
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,162
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,137
With Give and Take, Adam Grant not only introduced a landmark new paradigm for success but also established himself as one of his generation’s most compelling and provocative thought leaders. In Originals he again addresses the challenge of improving the world, but now from the perspective of becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battle conformity, and buck outdated traditions. How can we originate new ideas, policies, and practices without risking it all?
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting, but not science
- By Lloyd Fassett on 03-14-16
By: Adam Grant, and others
-
Friend and Foe
- When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both
- By: Adam D. Galinsky, Maurice E. Schweitzer
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 327
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 275
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 270
In Friend and Foe, researchers Galinsky and Schweitzer explain why this debate misses the mark. Rather than being hardwired to compete or cooperate, humans have evolved to do both. It is only by learning how to strike the right balance between these two forces that we can improve our long-term relationships and get more of what we want.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Unexpected
- By Garron Rose on 01-05-16
By: Adam D. Galinsky, and others
-
The Why Axis
- Hidden Motives and the Undiscovered Economics of Everyday Life
- By: Uri Gneezy, John A. List
- Narrated by: Eric Martin
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 92
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 79
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 79
Uri Gneezy and John List are like the anthropologists who spend months in the field studying the people in their native habitats. But in their case they embed themselves in our messy world to try and solve big, difficult problems, such as the gap between rich and poor students and the violence plaguing inner city schools; the real reasons people discriminate; whether women are really less competitive than men; and how to correctly price products and services. Their field experiments show how economic incentives can change outcomes.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Some Interesting Insights But Poor Science
- By Harold Toomey on 06-09-23
By: Uri Gneezy, and others
-
The Upside of Irrationality
- The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home
- By: Dan Ariely
- Narrated by: Simon Jones
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,667
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 999
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 989
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 and eye-opening truths about what really motivates us on the job.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not as good as the first
- By Stephen on 06-20-10
By: Dan Ariely
-
Sway
- The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
- By: Rom Brafman, Ori Brafman
- Narrated by: John Apicella
- Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 780
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 504
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 502
A Harvard Business School student pays over $200 for a $20 bill. Washington, D.C., commuters ignore a free subway concert by a violin prodigy. A veteran airline pilot attempts to take off without control-tower clearance and collides with another plane on the runway. Why do we do the wildly irrational things we sometimes do?
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Disappointing book
- By Martin Proulx on 12-10-08
By: Rom Brafman, and others
-
Equal Is Unfair
- America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality
- By: Don Watkins, Yaron Brook
- Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 620
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 566
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 567
We've all heard that the American Dream is vanishing, and that the cause is rising income inequality. The rich are getting richer by rigging the system in their favor, leaving the rest of us to struggle just to keep our heads above water. To save the American Dream, we're told that we need to fight inequality through tax hikes, wealth redistribution schemes, and a far higher minimum wage.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
While I agree with most of this book,...
- By Wayne on 12-30-16
By: Don Watkins, and others
-
Leadership BS
- Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time
- By: Jeffrey Pfeffer
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 442
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 384
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 376
In Leadership BS Jeffrey Pfeffer shines a bright light on the leadership industry, showing why it's failing and how it might be remade. He sets the record straight on the oft-made prescriptions for leaders to be honest, authentic, and modest; tell the truth; build trust; and take care of others. By calling BS on so many of the stories and myths of leadership, he gives people a more scientific look at the evidence and better information to guide their careers.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Antidote to Bromides from Leadership Gurus
- By Sean Lannan on 09-23-15
By: Jeffrey Pfeffer
-
What Works
- Gender Equality by Design
- By: Iris Bohnet
- Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 39
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
Gender equality is a moral and a business imperative. But unconscious bias holds us back, and de-biasing people’s minds has proven to be difficult and expensive. Diversity training programs have had limited success, and individual effort alone often invites backlash. Behavioral design offers a new solution. By de-biasing organizations instead of individuals, we can make smart changes that have big impacts.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent book every women and executive should read
- By N LI on 05-10-21
By: Iris Bohnet
-
Mindware
- Tools for Smart Thinking
- By: Richard E. Nisbett
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 510
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 434
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 427
Many scientific and philosophical ideas are so powerful that they can be applied to our lives at home, work, and school to help us think smarter and more effectively about our behavior and the world around us. Surprisingly, many of these ideas remain unknown to most of us. In Mindware, the world-renowned psychologist Richard Nisbett presents these ideas in clear and accessible detail, offering a tool kit for better thinking and wiser decisions.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Sound scientific advice on how to live your life
- By Neuron on 08-26-15
-
Blind Spots
- Why We Fail to Do What’s Right and What to Do about It
- By: Max H. Bazerman, Ann E. Tenbrunsel
- Narrated by: Kate McQueen
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 99
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 79
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 80
When confronted with an ethical dilemma, most of us like to think we would stand up for our principles. But we are not as ethical as we think we are. In Blind Spots, leading business ethicists Max Bazerman and Ann Tenbrunsel examine the ways we overestimate our ability to do what is right and how we act unethically without meaning to.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book! Poor narration
- By Susie on 11-20-17
By: Max H. Bazerman, and others
-
Willful Blindness
- Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril
- By: Margaret Heffernan
- Narrated by: Margaret Heffernan
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 347
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 275
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 271
Margaret Heffernan argues that the biggest threats and dangers we face are the ones we don't see - not because they're secret or invisible, but because we're willfully blind. A distinguished businesswoman and writer, she examines the phenomenon and traces its imprint in our private and working lives, and within governments and organizations, and asks: What makes us prefer ignorance? What are we so afraid of? Why do some people see more than others? And how can we change?
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
How Not to Be the Blind Leading the Blind
- By Cynthia on 06-29-13
-
The End of Average
- How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness
- By: Todd Rose
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,210
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,033
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,029
Are you above average? Is your child an A student? Is your employee an introvert or an extrovert? Every day we are measured against the yardstick of averages, judged according to how close we come to it or how far we deviate from it. The assumption that metrics comparing us to an average—like GPAs, personality test results, and performance review ratings—reveal something meaningful about our potential is so ingrained in our consciousness that we don't even question it. That assumption, says Harvard's Todd Rose, is spectacularly—and scientifically—wrong.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Good intentions, terrible execution
- By Kristofer Jarl on 05-06-19
By: Todd Rose
-
Kids These Days
- Human Capital and the Making of Millennials
- By: Malcolm Harris
- Narrated by: Will Collyer
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 248
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 201
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 202
Everyone knows "what's wrong with millennials". Glenn Beck says we've been ruined by "participation trophies". Simon Sinek says we have low self-esteem. An Australian millionaire says millennials could all afford homes if we'd just give up avocado toast. Thanks, millionaire. This millennial is here to prove them all wrong.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A devastating dream of revolution
- By Kevin Tierney Jr on 11-23-17
By: Malcolm Harris
-
The Conservative Heart
- How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America
- By: Arthur C. Brooks
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 493
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 431
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 432
In The Conservative Heart, Arthur C. Brooks contends that after years of focusing on economic growth and traditional social values, it is time for a new kind of conservatism - one that helps the vulnerable without mortgaging our children's future. In Brooks' daring vision, this conservative movement fights poverty, promotes equal opportunity, celebrates earned success, and values spiritual enlightenment. It is an inclusive movement with a positive agenda to help people lead happier, more hopeful, and more satisfied lives.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Outstanding recitation of conservatism!
- By GLENNO on 08-06-15
By: Arthur C. Brooks
-
Dark Horse
- Achieving Success Through the Pursuit of Fulfillment
- By: Todd Rose, Ogi Ogas
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 321
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 282
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 278
In Dark Horse, Rose and Ogas show how the four elements of the dark horse mind-set empower you to consistently make the right choices that fit your unique interests, abilities, and circumstances and will guide you to a life of passion, purpose, and achievement.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
If you're anything like me, you have to read this
- By Bree on 11-08-19
By: Todd Rose, and others
-
The Art of Strategy
- A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life
- By: Barry J. Nalebuff, Avinash K. Dixit
- Narrated by: Matthew Dudley
- Length: 17 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 313
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 269
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 267
Game theory means rigorous strategic thinking. It’s the art of anticipating your opponent’s next moves, knowing full well that your rival is trying to do the same thing to you. Though parts of game theory involve simple common sense, much is counterintuitive, and it can only be mastered by developing a new way of seeing the world. Using a diverse array of rich case studies - from pop culture, TV, movies, sports, politics, and history - the authors show how nearly every business and personal interaction has a game-theory component to it.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Completely misleading title
- By Motorjaw on 01-28-15
By: Barry J. Nalebuff, and others
What listeners say about Success and Luck
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Andre
- 04-18-17
Not what is advertised
What did you like best about Success and Luck? What did you like least?
The author seems to be a well educated person and has a point
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
I feel the book is not as is advertised. The myth of meritocracy is argued in order to pursue the hidden agenda of this book and that is to champion the new idea of Consumption Tax.
Do you think Success and Luck needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No follow up required.
Any additional comments?
Not at all what was expected.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael Mazur
- 03-30-17
Good Book overall
Book showed a lot of good examples were luck and good fortune ultimately helped with the success or good fortune of the individual. The last chapters that dealt with tax policy I did not feel fit with the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- sheetal
- 04-17-17
Luck and Meritocracy
This is a smart book talking about luck and meritocracy with fun examples. The only thing that dint make sense is a lot of tax examples which in my opinion makes it hard to understand the concept of luck and does not quite fit well with the books title.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Maria
- 05-26-24
This is a book on taxation
The book was repetitive and focused on taxation. Not what I was expecting. Hard to listen to. Not much substance.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- John C. O'Neill
- 02-29-24
Painful
A promising topic turned into a tribute to DEI. I stopped listening by the middle of the book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!