IDS 101: Decisions, Decisions: Books & More

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Why do smart people make irrational decisions every day? The answers will surprise you. 'Predictably Irrational' is an intriguing, witty and utterly original look at why we all make illogical decisions.

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The authors introduce a four-step process designed to counteract the biases that inevitably creep into the decision-making process.

is a vital reference text for all students and professionals of management, organization and decision making. The handbook offers a wide range of theoretical and empirical approaches to the understanding of organizational and strategic decisions. Contributors are internationally known experts drawn from North America, Canada and Europe who have spent many years in the study of decision making, and decision making relevant topics.

Behavioral decision research offers a distinctive approach to understanding and improving decision making. It combines theory and method from multiple disciples (psychology, economics, statistics, decision theory, management science). It employs both empirical methods, to study how decisions are actually made, and analytical ones, to study how decisions should be made and how consequential imperfections are. This book brings together key publications, selected to represent the major topics and approaches used in the field.

This is a collection of some of Albert Camus' best short stories, and the underlying theme in each is exile, whether it be spiritual, physical, or mental. The Guest is the tale of the school teacher put in care of an Arab prisoner to the missionary who finds himself worshiping a cruel graven image. Each story pits a man in a pivotal moment in time which defines his future.

In this collection of James Joyce short stories is Eveline. It is about a nineteen-year-old woman is going to leave home with a sailor. She thinks about her life, mulling over the decision she has to make.

This is an anthology of 22 classic American and English short stories, including Frank Stockton's The Lady, or the Tiger. A king has a peculiar method of putting criminals on trial. They’re placed in an arena and allowed to pick between two doors. Behind one is a beautiful woman; behind the other, a hungry tiger.

All 26 essays and stories in this anthology of contemporary Hispanic American writing focus on coming of age within two conflicting cultures. The Daughter of Invention by Julia Alvarez is about Laura, a Dominican-American mother, who sketches inventions at night before going to bed. Her daughter, Yolanda, writes poetry and is chosen to write a speech that she will read to the class. The family is adjusting to American culture.

This is actually factual data and not stories, so if you're looking for opinion polls this should be your first stop. The Gallup Poll consists of annual social surveys posed to thousands of U.S. citizens that gauge the general public's opinion on specific topics broadly ranging from politics, to religion, social issues, etc. This is a great resource to find the general pulse of American opinion on contemporary issues.

This book is a unique blend of decision theory and game theory. From classical optimization to modern game theory, authors Charalambos D. Aliprantis and Subir K. Chakrabarti show the importance of mathematical knowledge in understanding and analyzing issues in decision making. Through an imaginative selection of topics, Aliprantis and Chakrabarti treat decision and game theory as part of one body of knowledge. They move from problems involving the individual decision-maker to progressively more complex problems such as sequential rationality, auctions, and bargaining.

Using game theory and examples of actual games people play today, Nobel laureate Manfred Eigen and Ruthild Winkler show how the elements of chance and rules underlie all that happens in the universe, from genetic behavior through economic growth to the composition of music.

Hamlet, a prince of medieval-era Denmark, senses treachery behind his royal father's death. His mother is all too dangerously entangled in that treachery. This film portrays Shakespeare's immortal tale of high adventure and evil deeds.

Torn between loyalty to his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the seductive powers of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker ultimately turns his back on the Jedi. This begins his complete journey to the dark side and his transformation into Darth Vader.

Erin Brockovich is a feisty young mother who convinces attorney Ed Masry to hire her and promptly stumbles upon a monumental law case against a giant corporation. Erin's determined to take on this powerful adversary even though no law firm has dared to do it before. The two begin an incredible and sometimes hilarious fight that will bring a small town to its feet and a huge company to its knees.

The story follows the life of low I.Q. Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) and his meeting with the love of his life Jenny. It contains good decision making, disabilities, sexual decision making. The film chronicles his accidental experiences with some of the most important people and events in America from the late 1950's through the 1970's including a meeting with Elvis Presley, JFK, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, fighting in Vietnam, etc. The problem is, he doesn't realize the significance of his actions. Forrest comes to embody a generation.