Willful

How We Choose What We Do

By: Richard Robb

Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby

A revelatory alternative to the standard economic models of human behavior that proposes an exciting new way to understand decision‑making

Why do we do the things we do? The classical view of economics is that we are rational individuals, making decisions with the intention of maximizing our preferences. Behaviorists, on the other hand, see us as relying on mental shortcuts and conforming to preexisting biases. Richard Robb argues that neither explanation accounts for those things that we do for their own sake, and without understanding these sorts of actions, our picture of decision‑making is at best incomplete. Robb explains how these choices made seemingly without reason belong to a realm of behavior he identifies as “for‑itself.”

A provocative combination of philosophy and economics that offers a key to many of our quixotic choices, this groundbreaking volume provides a new way to understand everything from investing to how hard we work to how we manage daily interactions.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Richard Robb (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Making economics real and about life

What an absolute treat to listen to this thoughtful, well considered treatise on an economist’s explanation of how we choose and how/why we act. As a former student of this brilliant professor, I could hear the voice and cadence of a lecture laying out the case for his idea, building on layers of assumptions and truths still relevant, then adding the new secret sauce. While muddling through life, we do deeply crave some charts and illustrations to guide us. And, some acknowledgement that we’re ok when we act for our own reasons, too.

Excellent book

Narration was well done, and the information given was very helpful. He is an economist so don’t look for anything exciting though

Too short

It’s a good overview for those of not steeped in economic theory, because it gives good examples and succinct descriptions. However, I think he could have given the reader a little more credit. He could have gone into deeper explanations, but maybe he’s saving that for the next book?