“The theme of Michael Shermer’s new book is a graceful paradox. Decades of study of behavioral psychology, neuroscience and genetics, layered over more than a century of evolutionary studies, proves that we’re not completely rational in making economic choices. But an understanding of our fascinating limitations, which Shermer provides, makes us freer than we were before we knew of them . . . The most compelling chapters of Shermer’s book take us on an intimate tour of the best of the last half-century’s work in behavioral economics and neuroscience . . . Shermer notes that we must consciously choose freedom—all more important since the temptation, in light of the weird decisions we sometimes make in the marketplace, is to surrender to someone who must know better.”—Nicole Gelinas, The New York Post

"The world is messy, like it or not, and it's only going to get messier as the Web destroys rules and rule-makers. You can either complain about the chaos and wish for the good old days of order, or you can buy this book and understand why delirious disorder will soon make us all smarter."—Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail