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Behavioral Insights (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

Description:

The definitive introduction to the behavioral insights approach, which applies evidence about human behavior to practical problems.

Our behavior is strongly influenced by factors that lie outside our conscious awareness, although we tend to underestimate the power of this “automatic” side of our behavior. As a result, governments make ineffective policies, businesses create bad products, and individuals make unrealistic plans. In contrast, the behavioral insights approach applies evidence about actual human behavior—rather than assumptions about it—to practical problems. This volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, written by two leading experts in the field, offers an accessible introduction to behavioral insights, describing core features, origins, and practical examples.

These insights have opened up new ways of addressing some of the biggest challenges faced by societies, changing the way that governments, businesses, and nonprofits work in the process. This book shows how the approach is grounded in a concern with practical problems, the use of evidence about human behavior to address those problems, and experimentation to evaluate the impact of the solutions. It gives an overview of the approach's origins in psychology and behavioral economics, its early adoption by the UK's pioneering “nudge unit,” and its recent expansion into new areas. The book also provides examples from across different policy areas and guidance on how to run a behavioral insights project. Finally, the book outlines the limitations and ethical implications of the approach, and what the future holds for this fast-moving area.


Editorial Reviews

Review

"The 1 Book Every Entrepreneur Should Read on How to Influence Customer and Employee Behavior" - Inc.com

Review

A brilliant book, packed with wisdom and insights, and a ton of fun to boot. The best one-stop shop, if you're interested in behavioral science, and in how to improve the world.
—Cass R. Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor, and coauthor of
Nudge

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of BeSci

S. · October 1, 2025

A great summary of BeSci with lots of in-depth knowledge.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book

D. · July 17, 2025

Great book on behavioral finance

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Heady

S.C.G. · June 22, 2023

Not an easy read and often goes into intellectual puffery. There are some very good concepts in the book but I could have done with something less academic and more useful for actually doing work in BeSci.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Insights on Behavioral Insights!

K.N.P. · September 1, 2020

I devoured this book over the course of two days, taking copious notes and highlighting major swaths throughout the book. I've spent years studying behavioral science I'm always excited when a book or paper provides me with new information or when I am able to think about things from a new perspective - this book provided me with both new perspectives and new ideas on behavioral science.We like to believe that our decisions and behaviors are mostly driven by rational, cost-benefit analysis that weighs the pros and the cons of our actions...what this book highlights is that this belief is often mistaken. As the authors state, "much of our behavior is nonconscious, habitual, and driven by cues in the environment or the way in which choices are presented." And while lots of books have been written about the "irrational" way in which be behave, Behavioral Insights provides a lens in which we can view our actions and leverage both our rational and the automatic thinking systems. They bring in some very practical ways that we can apply this lens to our world to improve our outcomes - in work and policy.I also very much appreciated the emphasis on where the field of Behavioral Science is going and the ethical concerns that we need to think about as practitioners and researchers. It is an area that I believe we need to have more focus and conversations on.

5.0 out of 5 stars Accelerates understanding works, best for people with beyond beginning understanding

M.P.M. · October 16, 2020

Behavioral Insights provides a thoughtful policy and process review of ways in which to influence human behavior. The authors use the term behavioral insights to better capture aspects that go beyond the view of behavior as driven by economics.This book is not an introductory text. Readers with a more than general understanding and interest in behavioral economics will get the most out of this book.If you are interested in the topic, suggest that you read one or more of the books on the topic by Kahnamen “Thinking, Fast and Slow” or Thaler “Nudge” or Ariely “Predictably Irrational”. These books explain and illustrate behavioral economics that once understood bring this book to life. I found Ariely to be the most entertaining of the books, but anyone will do.The power of this book is in its discussion of the author’s experience applying these ideas different social, cultural and individual issues. Michael Hallsworth and Elspeth Kirkman are leaders on the Behavioral Insights Team giving them deep experience. In addition to that experience, both provide a well-reasoned and balanced view of the overall field. While this book is more about policy than application, it does a great job of taking the readers understanding to the next level.Chapter 4 – Applying Behavioral Insights is reason enough to read the book. It offers a clearly laid out approach that the authors used in their work. The clarity and illustrations bring a ‘how do you do that’ dimension lacking in other works.Chapters 5 – Criticisms, Considerations and Limitations presents a thorough and balanced perspective of the strengths and weaknesses of the discipline. The chapter will seem academic and policy oriented, but consideration on these items is essential for the leader and practitionerChapter 6 – The Future of Behavioral Insights looks at how these techniques can be applied in a future with new technologies like data analytics, human centered design, etc.Overall, this is a book I am smarter for having read, but you need to know more than a little to get the most from this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this primer on behavioral insights

L.M. · September 16, 2020

Would highly recommend! I thought this was an engaging, accessible summary of behavioral insights in practice. I particularly enjoyed the synthesis of the history of behavioral science, the ethics of its use, and the considerations practitioners should be aware of when applying behavioral science to policy and operations. The authors also provide keen insights into where the field is going, especially for the public sector. It's an engaging read for anyone interested in learning more about behavioral insights and wanting a short, comprehensive primer on where the field stands today and a practical look at considerations and constraints as applied to their work.

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring read that’s light on real world examples that you can use

v.w. · September 6, 2020

First of all the book is tiny in size. Secondly many paragraphs seem written just to add pages to this book. There’s just no substance inside this book. There’s nothing to help a business person or a government professional apply the principles. That’s how this book was advertised. It’s a super boring read with few but useless real life examples connecting the principles to real world behavior. Highly disappointing read. Zero value to me.

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and compelling. Every word is gold.

A.B. · February 12, 2021

I've been working in applied behavior science for over 15 years, and still gained valuable insights from reading this book. Kirkman and Hallsworth have distilled the process of applied behavior science into a clear and concise how-to manual that is a must for any aspiring or active practitioner. Their explanation of the why behind the what empowers readers to take these skills into their own problem spaces. I have already bought a extra copies of this book as gifts and will make it required reading for my team.

A thought-provoking examination of what the behavioural insights approach is and why it matters

M.M. · September 23, 2020

This book provides the general reader with much more than an “overview” of behavioural insights. It begins with a cogent and comprehensive examination of the evolution of this important approach and goes on to give us practical examples of its application and effectiveness. The book’s careful construction means the reader understands and feels fully engaged with the challenging ideas of the later chapter where the authors consider both the possible limitations of behavioural insights and the important ethical questions the approach may raise. Most exciting, though, is the final chapter, discussing the future of behavioural insights and the approach’s ability to contribute through a balance of “rigor and pragmatism” to the kind of decision making that supports “civic agency” and “healthy democracy”.

Too Small

A.C. · January 5, 2021

This book is very small in size.And hard to read.The picture is misleading

Incredible summary from leading behavioural experts!

J.W. · October 2, 2020

A fantastic and unique summary of behavioural insights. It has everything from the subjects beginnings to how to apply these insights. Some very thoughtful comments on the concerns are behavioural science too. For me the highlight of the book was the comments on the future of the field. These clearly come from two authors leading the direction of behavioural insights, as they have for years. A must read for behavioural practitioners and even more important for those being introduced to the subject for the first time.

It does what it says on the cover

K.M. · September 26, 2020

I've read a lot on behavioural insights, nudge and related topics ... this is a very clear, accessible, well-written introduction to the subject. It gives background, examples and practical guidance. It doesn’t shy away from the issues around behavioural insights but gives them a fair and balanced analysis. I think you'd struggle to find more useful starting point than this

Amazing summary if you are familiar with the behaviour change concept already

V. · April 4, 2021

I'm enjoying this book a lot! It's a great and simple summary of previous concepts, development of behavioural insights and books like 'Nudge', 'Misbehaving'. It's an easy and entertaining read.It's missing the Behaviour Change Wheel by S. Michie and colleagues which is used quite widely in the UK and elsewhere by governments.

Behavioral Insights (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

Product ID: U0262539403
Condition: New

4.3

AED8965

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

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Imported From: United States

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Behavioral Insights (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

Product ID: U0262539403
Condition: New

4.3

Behavioral Insights (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)-0
Type: Paperback

AED8965

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

Returns & Warranty policies

Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.

While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

The definitive introduction to the behavioral insights approach, which applies evidence about human behavior to practical problems.

Our behavior is strongly influenced by factors that lie outside our conscious awareness, although we tend to underestimate the power of this “automatic” side of our behavior. As a result, governments make ineffective policies, businesses create bad products, and individuals make unrealistic plans. In contrast, the behavioral insights approach applies evidence about actual human behavior—rather than assumptions about it—to practical problems. This volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, written by two leading experts in the field, offers an accessible introduction to behavioral insights, describing core features, origins, and practical examples.

These insights have opened up new ways of addressing some of the biggest challenges faced by societies, changing the way that governments, businesses, and nonprofits work in the process. This book shows how the approach is grounded in a concern with practical problems, the use of evidence about human behavior to address those problems, and experimentation to evaluate the impact of the solutions. It gives an overview of the approach's origins in psychology and behavioral economics, its early adoption by the UK's pioneering “nudge unit,” and its recent expansion into new areas. The book also provides examples from across different policy areas and guidance on how to run a behavioral insights project. Finally, the book outlines the limitations and ethical implications of the approach, and what the future holds for this fast-moving area.


Editorial Reviews

Review

"The 1 Book Every Entrepreneur Should Read on How to Influence Customer and Employee Behavior" - Inc.com

Review

A brilliant book, packed with wisdom and insights, and a ton of fun to boot. The best one-stop shop, if you're interested in behavioral science, and in how to improve the world.
—Cass R. Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor, and coauthor of
Nudge

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of BeSci

S. · October 1, 2025

A great summary of BeSci with lots of in-depth knowledge.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book

D. · July 17, 2025

Great book on behavioral finance

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Heady

S.C.G. · June 22, 2023

Not an easy read and often goes into intellectual puffery. There are some very good concepts in the book but I could have done with something less academic and more useful for actually doing work in BeSci.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Insights on Behavioral Insights!

K.N.P. · September 1, 2020

I devoured this book over the course of two days, taking copious notes and highlighting major swaths throughout the book. I've spent years studying behavioral science I'm always excited when a book or paper provides me with new information or when I am able to think about things from a new perspective - this book provided me with both new perspectives and new ideas on behavioral science.We like to believe that our decisions and behaviors are mostly driven by rational, cost-benefit analysis that weighs the pros and the cons of our actions...what this book highlights is that this belief is often mistaken. As the authors state, "much of our behavior is nonconscious, habitual, and driven by cues in the environment or the way in which choices are presented." And while lots of books have been written about the "irrational" way in which be behave, Behavioral Insights provides a lens in which we can view our actions and leverage both our rational and the automatic thinking systems. They bring in some very practical ways that we can apply this lens to our world to improve our outcomes - in work and policy.I also very much appreciated the emphasis on where the field of Behavioral Science is going and the ethical concerns that we need to think about as practitioners and researchers. It is an area that I believe we need to have more focus and conversations on.

5.0 out of 5 stars Accelerates understanding works, best for people with beyond beginning understanding

M.P.M. · October 16, 2020

Behavioral Insights provides a thoughtful policy and process review of ways in which to influence human behavior. The authors use the term behavioral insights to better capture aspects that go beyond the view of behavior as driven by economics.This book is not an introductory text. Readers with a more than general understanding and interest in behavioral economics will get the most out of this book.If you are interested in the topic, suggest that you read one or more of the books on the topic by Kahnamen “Thinking, Fast and Slow” or Thaler “Nudge” or Ariely “Predictably Irrational”. These books explain and illustrate behavioral economics that once understood bring this book to life. I found Ariely to be the most entertaining of the books, but anyone will do.The power of this book is in its discussion of the author’s experience applying these ideas different social, cultural and individual issues. Michael Hallsworth and Elspeth Kirkman are leaders on the Behavioral Insights Team giving them deep experience. In addition to that experience, both provide a well-reasoned and balanced view of the overall field. While this book is more about policy than application, it does a great job of taking the readers understanding to the next level.Chapter 4 – Applying Behavioral Insights is reason enough to read the book. It offers a clearly laid out approach that the authors used in their work. The clarity and illustrations bring a ‘how do you do that’ dimension lacking in other works.Chapters 5 – Criticisms, Considerations and Limitations presents a thorough and balanced perspective of the strengths and weaknesses of the discipline. The chapter will seem academic and policy oriented, but consideration on these items is essential for the leader and practitionerChapter 6 – The Future of Behavioral Insights looks at how these techniques can be applied in a future with new technologies like data analytics, human centered design, etc.Overall, this is a book I am smarter for having read, but you need to know more than a little to get the most from this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this primer on behavioral insights

L.M. · September 16, 2020

Would highly recommend! I thought this was an engaging, accessible summary of behavioral insights in practice. I particularly enjoyed the synthesis of the history of behavioral science, the ethics of its use, and the considerations practitioners should be aware of when applying behavioral science to policy and operations. The authors also provide keen insights into where the field is going, especially for the public sector. It's an engaging read for anyone interested in learning more about behavioral insights and wanting a short, comprehensive primer on where the field stands today and a practical look at considerations and constraints as applied to their work.

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring read that’s light on real world examples that you can use

v.w. · September 6, 2020

First of all the book is tiny in size. Secondly many paragraphs seem written just to add pages to this book. There’s just no substance inside this book. There’s nothing to help a business person or a government professional apply the principles. That’s how this book was advertised. It’s a super boring read with few but useless real life examples connecting the principles to real world behavior. Highly disappointing read. Zero value to me.

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and compelling. Every word is gold.

A.B. · February 12, 2021

I've been working in applied behavior science for over 15 years, and still gained valuable insights from reading this book. Kirkman and Hallsworth have distilled the process of applied behavior science into a clear and concise how-to manual that is a must for any aspiring or active practitioner. Their explanation of the why behind the what empowers readers to take these skills into their own problem spaces. I have already bought a extra copies of this book as gifts and will make it required reading for my team.

A thought-provoking examination of what the behavioural insights approach is and why it matters

M.M. · September 23, 2020

This book provides the general reader with much more than an “overview” of behavioural insights. It begins with a cogent and comprehensive examination of the evolution of this important approach and goes on to give us practical examples of its application and effectiveness. The book’s careful construction means the reader understands and feels fully engaged with the challenging ideas of the later chapter where the authors consider both the possible limitations of behavioural insights and the important ethical questions the approach may raise. Most exciting, though, is the final chapter, discussing the future of behavioural insights and the approach’s ability to contribute through a balance of “rigor and pragmatism” to the kind of decision making that supports “civic agency” and “healthy democracy”.

Too Small

A.C. · January 5, 2021

This book is very small in size.And hard to read.The picture is misleading

Incredible summary from leading behavioural experts!

J.W. · October 2, 2020

A fantastic and unique summary of behavioural insights. It has everything from the subjects beginnings to how to apply these insights. Some very thoughtful comments on the concerns are behavioural science too. For me the highlight of the book was the comments on the future of the field. These clearly come from two authors leading the direction of behavioural insights, as they have for years. A must read for behavioural practitioners and even more important for those being introduced to the subject for the first time.

It does what it says on the cover

K.M. · September 26, 2020

I've read a lot on behavioural insights, nudge and related topics ... this is a very clear, accessible, well-written introduction to the subject. It gives background, examples and practical guidance. It doesn’t shy away from the issues around behavioural insights but gives them a fair and balanced analysis. I think you'd struggle to find more useful starting point than this

Amazing summary if you are familiar with the behaviour change concept already

V. · April 4, 2021

I'm enjoying this book a lot! It's a great and simple summary of previous concepts, development of behavioural insights and books like 'Nudge', 'Misbehaving'. It's an easy and entertaining read.It's missing the Behaviour Change Wheel by S. Michie and colleagues which is used quite widely in the UK and elsewhere by governments.

Similar suggestions by Bolo

More from this brand

Similar items from “Social Services & Welfare”