Non-Fiction Bookclub November Meeting: Nudge, Behavioural Economics

Non-fiction book club: this month discussing Nudge and how the way choices are presented shapes our decisions. No prior knowledge needed.
About this Event

A monthly non-fiction book club for people in their twenties and thirties, exploring big ideas across economics, science, philosophy, psychology, history and more.

November read:

Nudge, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, 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's, now use nudges in everything from super enrolment to organ donor defaults, and they're built into the apps and websites we use daily. It's an important read because it reveals how quietly choice design shapes everyday decisions, and it helps you notice when you're being nudged.

No background knowledge is needed, and you don't have to finish the book. A summary and explanations of the key ideas will be provided.