Priceless
The Hidden Psychology of Value
Published on 2. June 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-85168-829-6 (ISBN)
Description
Discover how everyday pricing strategies are designed to manipulate us - and how to fight back
'An instructive and entertaining romp.' DANIEL KAHNEMAN, AUTHOR OF THINKING, FAST AND SLOW
'Poundstone is your savvy, witty guide to saving the pound in your purse.' THE TIMES
In Priceless, bestselling author William Poundstone reveals the hidden psychology of value and explores how we react to the most pervasive persuader of all: price. Charting the burgeoning growth of price-consultants who advise retailers from Nike to Nokia, Poundstone shows how behavioural decision theory has revolutionised the pricing strategies of major corporations.
Informed by fascinating behavioural experiments and packed with real-life examples, Priceless explains why prices are so important, and the tricks that companies use to sell their goods. It will prove indispensable to
anyone who buys, sells, or negotiates.
Poundstone reveals:
Why it is so many prices end in 9.
How it is that text messages cost money, but emails remain free.
The real reason cereal packets keep getting smaller... and smaller...
'An instructive and entertaining romp.' DANIEL KAHNEMAN, AUTHOR OF THINKING, FAST AND SLOW
'Poundstone is your savvy, witty guide to saving the pound in your purse.' THE TIMES
In Priceless, bestselling author William Poundstone reveals the hidden psychology of value and explores how we react to the most pervasive persuader of all: price. Charting the burgeoning growth of price-consultants who advise retailers from Nike to Nokia, Poundstone shows how behavioural decision theory has revolutionised the pricing strategies of major corporations.
Informed by fascinating behavioural experiments and packed with real-life examples, Priceless explains why prices are so important, and the tricks that companies use to sell their goods. It will prove indispensable to
anyone who buys, sells, or negotiates.
Poundstone reveals:
Why it is so many prices end in 9.
How it is that text messages cost money, but emails remain free.
The real reason cereal packets keep getting smaller... and smaller...
Reviews / Votes
'Bright analysis of the psychology of pricing... readable and revealing.' * Kirkus Reviews * 'Switched-on consumers may think that they are wise to the marketing strategies thrown at them, but they should think again. Poundstone is your savvy, witty guide to saving the pound in your purse.' * The Times * 'Pricing is a richer subject than you might imagine. The smile that creeps onto your face when a shameless marketing gambit reminds you of something you read in Poundstone's book? Priceless.' * Business Week * 'All about the hidden psychology of value, it is a truly eye-opening account of how the pricing of products affects how we think of them.' * The Big Issue * '[The book's] remarkably engaging prose style kept me glued to the page. Fascinating and fun, and I definitely think you should buy it.' * BBC Focus, ????? * 'An instructive and entertaining romp, which will leave you amused, smarter, and wondering about what money and prices really mean.' * Daniel Kahneman, Professor Emeritus, Princeton University, and Nobel Laureate in Economics *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 200 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
379 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-85168-829-6 (9781851688296)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2011
1st Edition
Oneworld Publications
€7.90
Available for download
Person
William Poundstone is the author of more than ten non-fiction books, including Fortune's Formula, which was the Amazon Editors' Pick for #1 non-fiction book of 2005. Poundstone has written for The New York Times, Psychology Today, Esquire, Harpers, The Economist, and Harvard Business Review. He has appeared on the Today Show, The David Letterman Show and hundreds of radio talk-shows throughout the world. Poundstone studied physics at MIT and many of his ideas concern the social and financial impact of scientific ideas. His books have sold over half a million copies worldwide.