Human actions can take us by surprise. Certain day-to-day observations in life become mysteries that are never answered. Be it a neighbour's decision to hunt for one particular kind of job or a cousin's decision to end a marriage, all such activities make one wonder and conclude whether mankind is after all, extremely illogical and irrational. However, Harford agrees to disagree. He contests for the cause of rationality in people. The much appreciated columnist of the revered Financial Times attempts successfully to explain the causes behind absurdities of regular life. One prime example throughout the book is that of the pay gap between that of an employee and a top notch employer, the difference between the incomes of the regular working class and people making a career in banking, investment and so on. He explains to the readers the meaning of something called the 'Overwhelming Gain Paradox' wherein he talks about the association of myriad risks and rewards with each such job. The book is a simplistic dissection of mundane but critical issues. As is obvious by the name, the book aims at restoring faith in the rationality possessed by humans.
