Payoff:The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations

Every day we work hard to motivate ourselves, the people we live with, and the people who work for and do business with us. In this way, much of what we do can be defined as being “motivators.” From the boardroom to the living room, our role as motivators is complex, and the more we try to motivate partners and children, friends and coworkers, the clearer it becomes that the story of motivation is far more intricate and fascinating than we’ve assumed.

Much of the study of economics is about motivation and incentive structures. Behavioral economics is a wonderful way of putting the humanity behind that motivation center stage. In his new book, Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations, legendary psychologist Daniel Ariely brings together some of his most important studies and insights to explain not only why we do what we do, but how to more effectively use these elements to improve our productivity and the world around us.

With studies that range from Intel Corporation to a kindergarten classroom, Ariely digs deep to find the roots of motivation, how it works and how we can use this knowledge to approach important choices in our own lives.  Along the way, he explores intriguing questions such as: Can giving employees bonuses harm productivity? Why is trust so crucial for successful motivation? What are our misconceptions about how to value our work? How does your sense of your own mortality impact your motivation?

Big Ideas from Payoff examines the main themes in Payoff and highlights the true nature of motivation, our partial blindness to the way it works, and how we can bridge the gap.