Behavioral Scientist’s Notable Books of 2025
Our list of noteworthy behavioral science books published in 2025.
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What It’s Like to Be…an Elementary School Teacher
Weaving songs and dances into classroom lessons, having difficult conversations with parents, and navigating the second-day meltdowns of kindergarten students with Yaronda Kilgo, an elementary school teacher.
Most Read Articles of 2025
Take a moment to dive into the pieces you and your fellow readers turned to most this year.
What We're Reading
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Is Cognitive Dissonance Actually a Thing?
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The New Yorker -
600 Readers Told Us About the Best Gifts They Ever Got. These Are the Top 13.
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The New York Times -
When Did Everything Become ‘K-Shaped’?
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The New York Times -
What If You’re Already on Top of Things?
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The Imperfectionist -
Letters from Dad: The Gratitude Paradox
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Time Travel For Beginners
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What It’s Like to Be…a Humanitarian Worker
Managing Ebola treatment centers in Sierra Leone, coordinating with government officials and local leaders, and advocating for the radical simplicity of cash aid with Grace Jackson, a humanitarian worker.
Save the Date—Neuropaz 2026: Hard Truths & Paths Forward
In February, Behavioral Scientist will team up with the peace science organization Neuropaz to host an online event exploring the latest work and thinking at the intersection of behavioral science and peace and conflict.
The Trust Equation: It’s Not Just Who You Hire, It’s How You Hire
What if organizations decided to treat their entire hiring process (not just who they hire), as a competitive advantage rather than a wearisome chore?
What It’s Like to Be…a Conductor
Reinterpreting centuries-old classical music, marking up symphonies with notes on phrasing, and turning mid-performance disasters into unforgettable moments with Carlos Miguel Prieto, a music director and conductor.
Behavioral Economics, Then and Now: A Conversation With Alex Imas
Alex Imas and Richard Thaler teamed up to update a landmark book in behavioral economics. In doing so, they chart where behavioral economics began, where it is now, and where it could go next.
Why Don’t People Return Their Shopping Carts? A (Somewhat) Scientific Investigation
For reasons I can’t fully explain, people’s failure to return their carts bothers me more than it probably should. But then I realized I can do something about it.
What It’s Like to Be…a Master Electrician
Calculating electrical loads, getting zapped by 277 volts, and savoring the freedom of the skilled trades with Doug Powell, a master electrician.
Our Hypocrisy Blind Spot
For our politics to function, we must find a balance between letting all hypocrisy slide and trying to eradicate hypocrisy completely.
