In Sludge, Cass R. Sunstein draws on years of research to argue that the way we think about getting things done is fundamentally flawed. He offers a new model for understanding why some tasks are easy and others hard, challenging our beliefs about will power, multitasking, and productivity in the process. Along the way he provides illuminating insights into how sludge works in everything from governments to individual lives—and what can be done to reduce its impact. Sunstein’s book is a thorough examination of one of the most important subjects there is: human choice and behavior. It’s an immensely readable work filled with fascinating stories and examples that illustrate his main points; anyone interested in psychology or behavioral economics should find it engaging and enlightening.” — Library Journal starred review.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for anyone interested in psychology or behavioral economics, as well as those looking to improve their productivity.
Pros :
- The author provides a thorough examination of one of the most important subjects there is.
- The book is immensely readable, filled with fascinating stories and examples that illustrate the main points.
- It will be interesting and enlightening for anyone interested in psychology or behavioral economics.
Cons :
- The author could have drilled down further into some of his examples.
- The book might be a little dense for some readers.
- It’s not the most exciting topic to read about, but it is important.
Learn more about the author
Cass Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School. He is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, co-founder of The Volcker Alliance, and past president of the American Political Science Association. His books include Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness; Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter; Simpler: The Future of Government;Republic.com 2.0; Why Societies Need Dissent; Locke in Context (coauthored with Peter Susser); two editions (with Lisa Robinson)of Informational cascades: A studyof democracy in action ; part oneof Designing Social Inquiry ;andIs Administrative Law Unlawful?
Reader Reviews
“It’s a great book. I learned a lot from it and enjoyed reading it.”
“I found Sludge to be a great read. Sunstein does an excellent job of explaining complex topics in an easy to understand way. The book is full of interesting examples that illustrate how sludge affects our lives.”
“Sunstein has given us a gem of a book. It is crammed full of insights about why we do the things we do, and what can be done to make it easier for all of us to get things done.”
“I read this book a couple years ago for a class and absolutely loved it. The examples Sunstein provides are thought-provoking and make the concepts he’s discussing easy to understand.”
