Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
How small changes in choice architecture can influence decisions for the better
"A nudge is any aspect of the choice architecture that alters people's behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options."
— Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein
My Review
Nudge introduces choice architecture - the design of decision environments. This maps directly to how organisms design their environments to influence behavior (niche construction). The book provides practical tools for shaping behavior without restricting choice.
Why It Matters
Understanding how to design decision environments is essential for organizational leadership. Nudge provides frameworks for influencing behavior through environmental design rather than mandates.
Key Ideas
- Choice architecture shapes decisions without restricting options
- Defaults are powerful - people tend to stick with them
- Libertarian paternalism: guide choices while preserving freedom
- NUDGES: iNcentives, Understand mappings, Defaults, Give feedback, Expect error, Structure complex choices
How It Connects to This Framework
The niche construction concepts in Book 6 parallel Thaler and Sunstein's choice architecture. Environmental design throughout the framework is informed by nudge thinking.
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Want to go deeper?
The full Biology of Business book explores these concepts in depth with practical frameworks.