Non-Fiction Bookclub

Big ideas, one book a month

This is the first event for our non-fiction bookclub, which will explore a different field each month, ranging from economics, science, history, philosophy, psychology and more. This event will discuss Nudge, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, which argues that people make predictable mistakes about money, health and happiness. Small changes to how choices are presented, like making retirement savings opt-out, can steer people toward better decisions without restricting their freedom. Published in 2008, it brought behavioural economics into the mainstream and contributed to Thaler's 2017 Nobel Prize. Governments worldwide, including Australia, who now use nudges in everything from super enrolment to organ donor defaults, and they're built into the apps and websites we use daily. This book is an important read because it reveals how quietly choice delign shapes everyday decisions, and helps you notice when you're being nudged. No background knowledge is required and you don't have to finish the whole book. A summary of the book and explanations of the key ideas will be provided.