The New York Times–bestselling co-author of Nudge explores how more information can make us happy or miserable—and why we sometimes avoid it but sometimes seek it out.

How much information is too much? Do we need to know how many calories are in the giant vat of popcorn that we bought on our way into the movie theater? Do we want to know if we are genetically predisposed to a certain disease? Can we do anything useful with next week''s weather forecast for Paris if we are not in Paris?

In Too Much Information, Cass Sunstein examines the effects of information on our livesPolicymakers emphasize “the right to know,” but Sunstein takes a different perspective, arguing that the focus should be on human well-being and what information contributes to it. Government should require companies, employers, hospitals, and others to disclose information not because of a general “right to know” but when the information in question would significantly improve people''s lives.
 
Of course, says Sunstein, we are better off with stop signs, warnings on prescription drugs, and reminders about payment due datesBut sometimes less is more. What we need is more clarity about what information is actually doing or achieving.


Format Häftad Omfång 264 sidor Språk Engelska Förlag MIT Press Ltd Utgivningsdatum 2022-02-15 ISBN 9780262543910