Choose a genre
Bestsellers
Hardback
  1. Breaking Dawn Stephenie Meyer
  2. In the Dark Mark Billingham
  3. A Snowball in Hell Christopher Brookmyre
  4. Apache Dawn Damien Lewis
  5. A Death in Tuscany Michele Giuttari
Paperback
  1. Goodnight, Beautiful Dorothy Koomson
  2. Twilight Stephenie Meyer
  3. New Moon Stephenie Meyer
  4. The Careful Use of Compliments Alexander McCall Smith
  5. Eclipse Stephenie Meyer
Audio
  1. The Tiger in the Smoke Margery Allingham Read by Philip Franks
  2. In The Dark Mark Billingham Read by Adjoa Andoh
  3. 84 Charing Cross Road Helene Hanff Read by Juliet Stevenson and John Nettles
  4. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Alexander McCall Smith Read by Adjoa Andoh
  5. Attention All Shipping Charlie Connelly Read by Alex Jennings

The rationality of love

You're feeling especially loved-up after last night's candlelit dinner, but have you ever stopped to think about why we fall in love? I have to say, before reading The Logic of Life, I never once considered that my choice of partner was a rational choice.  He's lovely, but I've always been of the opinion that falling in love is down to chemistry, instinct and lots of other things that have no connection with logic.  It's not very romantic if your boyfriend has weighed up your pros and cons and decided that you're a logical move, is it?

Now Tim is not saying that love is completely based on logic, but he does argue that 'rational choice theory' can be applied to most, if not all, aspects of our lives.  Whether it's sex, marriage, divorce or which area we live in, Tim argues that there are logical reasons behind the decisions we make. 

In one chapter, Tim explores supply and demand in the marriage market. He cites studies into speed-dating where people who attend and don't find someone they immediately click with don't just walk away disappointed.  Oh no, they lower their standards.  It's all about 'market opportunity'.

I'm no economist and I'm probably not doing Tim's book any justice, so you should listen to Tim talking about it instead.  He does a much better job and he even explains how you can use economic theory  to decide when to propose.

Economics has never been so hot.

Posted 15/02/2008 15:21:00 by Lindsey Mooney, Online Development Manager with 0 comments.

Comments

Post a comment

  • Security code