This book explores a lot of the decisions we make from day to day from a rigorously experimental perspective. While it doesn’t always answer the “Why”, it can frequently tell you how much, or at least confirm your suspicions. Is “Free” really better then cheap? (Yes!) How much better? Are we more likely to lie or cheat in order to get a coupon or in order to get cash? Should you offer your neighbor $20 to bring in your mail while you are out of town, or should you bake them cookies?

While the experiments are rigorous, the language is easy to read and relatively humorous. Definitely worth checking out.

Note: it appears that amazon.com has decided that folks shouldn’t link to the Kindle versions of books (or at least this version). I got it for $9.99.

Dave Cullen’s Columbine is one of the best-written nonfiction books I’ve read in a long time period, and is an excellent treatment of the subject.  With stories of what happened that day and during the aftermath, and pulling no punches about what went wrong, it’s a gripping read.  As an event, the shooting is something that I guess really did require ten years before anyone could produce an analytical work without the shades of media slant.

Anyway, highly recommended.

Minor update: while I’m not sure I want to get into a big discussion, I find it pretty amazing that within a few days of posting this, I got a comment from someone urging me to check out a website to “get the real story.”  I’d have to go back and look, but I believe that movement is referenced in the book, and it does discuss the “third killer” theories, and goes on to debunk (or at least explain) them by indicating that the killers started in heavy black jackets, and took them off during their spree.  Also that there was an airconditioning repairman on the roof.  Anyway, do what you like but the book is a useful read.