Why do we get so embarrassed when a colleague wears the same shirt?
Why do we eat the same thing for breakfast every day, but seek out
novelty at lunch and dinner? How has streaming changed the way Netflix
makes recommendations? Why do people think the music of their youth is
the best? How can you spot a fake review on Yelp?
Our preferences and opinions are constantly being shaped by countless
forces - especially in the digital age with its nonstop procession of
"thumbs up" and "likes" and "stars." Tom Vanderbilt, bestselling author
of Traffic, explains why we like the things we like, why we hate the
things we hate, and what all this tell us about ourselves.
With a voracious curiosity, Vanderbilt stalks the elusive beast of
taste, probing research in psychology, marketing, and neuroscience to
answer myriad complex and fascinating questions. If you've ever wondered
how Netflix recommends movies or why books often see a sudden decline in
Amazon ratings after they win a major prize, Tom Vanderbilt has answers
to these questions and many more that you've probably never thought to
ask.