Book rec: Predictably Irrational or Predictive Analytics
by Jeff (BGS) 
, A starter home in suburban Tempe, Sunday, March 31, 2013, 08:48 (4332 days ago)
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely and Predictive Analytics by Eric Siegel keep popping up as recommendations. Would anyone in TPG-land recommend them (or gives them a thumbs down)?
![[image]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/ca/Predictably_Irrational_Book_Cover.jpg/200px-Predictably_Irrational_Book_Cover.jpg)
![[image]](https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/3278648186/01dd2a9b156b5d85fd176c8519d27b0c.png)
Ariely book is alright
by irishoutsider , Sunday, March 31, 2013, 11:56 (4332 days ago) @ Jeff (BGS)
If I remember correctly, it's more of a casual read than Thinking Fast and Slow, and I suppose comparable to Nate Silver's book. I don't know of there's a lot of new ground here if you've already read Silver's book.
All depends on what you're looking to get out of it?
Predictably Irrational is great.
by Mike (Max) 
, Orlando, Sunday, March 31, 2013, 11:34 (4332 days ago) @ Jeff (BGS)
That said, it's very easy reading, in case you were looking for something advanced. It's a Freakonomics-level book, and there are no analytics (whatever you take that to mean). It's about behavioral economics, not data.
I haven't read the other, but I liked Predictably Irrational enough to make several friends read my copy.
what's your "analytics reading level"?
by HumanRobot , Cybertron, Sunday, March 31, 2013, 10:10 (4332 days ago) @ Jeff (BGS)
What are some other analytics books you've read?
Pretty high
by Jeff (BGS) , A starter home in suburban Tempe, Sunday, March 31, 2013, 11:40 (4332 days ago) @ HumanRobot
I was a EE undergrad and I do a lot of number crunching for work, although that is more about data manipulation than math or stats. I won't get scared away by advanced math, but I will get bored will basic stuff unless the application is interesting (ala Freakonomics or Mathletics).
ok cool.
by HumanRobot , Cybertron, Sunday, March 31, 2013, 13:13 (4332 days ago) @ Jeff (BGS)
edited by HumanRobot, Sunday, March 31, 2013, 13:31
Those are both pretty decent books! I think you'll enjoy both.
As irishoutsider alludes to, it should be noted that Silver's book is a bit more contemporary.