Cazenovia’s first year students read a significant book prior to their arrival in the fall.

1. Cazenovia’s first year students read a significant book prior to their arrival in the fall. This year’s book is Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely (available at the Cazenovia College Bookstore or online at www.caz.bkstr.com). You will discuss Predictably Irrational during fall orientation as one of your first steps into college academic life. A set of discussion questions is on the reverse of this handout.

2. Discussion questions on Predictably Irrational • This book describes and analyzes many irrational behaviors. • What are the negative consequences of these irrational behaviors? • Are there circumstances in which these irrational behaviors are good or beneficial? • Do you consider yourself a generally rational person? Why? • Have you made a decision that seemed rational at the time but in retrospect was not rational? Explain. • Do you think that you are more or less rational than other people? • Think of examples where entire groups of people made similarly irrational decisions. Why did this happen? What were the results?