Mental Models

by Peter Hollins

New

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Personal Development, Leadership, Education

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2019

About the author

Peter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a student of the human condition. He possesses a BS in psychology and a graduate degree.

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5 stars. Many of the mental models are basic, such as:
* Important tasks/urgent tasks
* Reversible decisions/irreversible decisions
* Satisficer/maximizer
* Minimize regrets
* Truth (follow the evidence)
* Peer review
* Pareto Principle
* Right actions/easy actions

[S.Ach · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I basically load my head full of mental models"
~ Naval Ravikant

First time I came across the term 'mental model' when I was listening to the podcast of Naval, whose aphorism I find to be pretty inspiring.
Few days later, I again came across again the term, when I was reading an article featuring Charlie Munger, where he has apparently said that people trained in one model will try to solve all problems with that model.
"You know the old saying: to the man with a hammer, the world looks like a nail."
Mental models that draw from various disciplines help a person avoid blind spots.

Curiosity got better of me and I ordered couple of books with titles "Mental Models".
I begin with the one that boasted of listing 30 of them.

Well. Now, I know what mental models are.
Common place life / thinking / decision making advice are called Mental Models. :)

One of the mental model listed by the author, is Sturgeon's law which states - 90% of everything is crap.
I bet, 90% of the mental models discussed in this book, are known to you already.

Anyway, I will use this book as a reference, when I will be giving the examples of mental models to showcase my thinking superiority. (Who cares whether your thinking / problem solving ability is superior or not, as long as you can define it with XYZ law/rule or attribute to a quote by some known intellectual!)

[Håkan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mental models presented are all useful. However, I can't stand the typical sloppy American self-improvement/management literature language used in this book. Most examples are about personal topics especially weight loss and exercise and has a moralistic tone. It would have been much more helpful to have business examples. Also, the author reduces most of the models presented to "focus on what's important" or "diminishing returns". For some of the models, it seems that the author does not understand them himself: For example, he claims that Occam's razor is about selecting the explanation that is most likely to be true. My tip for reading this book is to skip to the summary on the last pages. It contains everything you need to know and only some of the crap.

[Łukasz Badura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good catalogue of mental models however most of them were known to me from other sources. I found the writing a bit sloppy with a lot of repetition and simplistic examples. The book can serve as a quick reference rather than a good guide.

[Mike Cheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty good advices (though I think some are either banal or wrong (e.g., I think he got Taleb's points about Black Swans backwards).My favorites: MM2 Monkey's Paw Fallacy - see the second order consequences of your actions; MM11 Be Like Darwin - immerse yourself in evidence or explanations that go against your own beliefs; MM14 Find Your Own Flaws First (before others do); MM17 Fishbone Diagram; MM28 Sturgeon's Law - be protective of your time and mental resources because 90% of what's out there is crap (including my book reviews lol); and MM30 Parkinson's Rule re Procrastination - productivity is inverse with the available time you give yourself, and so be strict on setting your own deadlines otherwise you'll find yourself wasting time until said deadline approaches.

[Michael Hammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: 30 mental models on decision making, thinking clearly, problem solving, and changing your perspective.

Review: This was an easy read that described each of the mental models with explanations and examples. Some of the mental models were not given their conventional names. The chapters had a lot of fluff that didn't need to be there.

Read My Notes: https://michaelphammer.com/mental-mod...

[Robert Sutherland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read, a 30,000 foot survey of ways to solve problems by varying your perspective. This is not deep how to guide but a quick overview of 30 different ways of thinking that might give you an edge in finding solutions or avoiding disasters.

[Fair Pisuttisarun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how Peter Hollins manages to be just concise and just in-detail to balance out the stories and practical advice he provides for each model. The book contains interesting examples and a lot of actionable items that you can take to work or also in your personal life. While some models/principles I've heard of before, a lot were new and insightful to me, especially the anti-mental models.

[Tyrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Blew my mind. Could easily be my favourite book of this year

[Jota Caparrós · Rating 4 out of 5]

30 modelos mentales bien explicados, donde algunos son bastante útiles e interesantes y otros un poco de relleno. Aún así es un buen libro. Corto y al grano.

[Vikas Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful mental models explained lucidly - a book I'll keep coming back to often!

[PL83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book on mental models. In his book Hollins goes through 30 thinking tools that can be useful in everyday life and in work.

Models are the following:

Chapter 1. Decision-making for speed and context

1. Address important, ignore urgent (Eisenhower Matrix)
2. Visualize all the dominoes. Think further.
3. Make reversible decisions.
4. Make decisions that are good enough. Don't spend too much time looking for the perfect choice.
5. Stay within 40-70%. Make a decision with no less than 40% of the information you need but no more than 70%.
6. Minimize regret. Visualize yourself at age 80 and ask if you would regret making (or not making) a decision.

Chapter 2. How to see more clearly

7. Ignore "Black swans". Don't jump to conclusions based on imperfect, skewed or incomplete information.
8. Look for equilibrium points. Notice trends in progress.
9. Wait for the regression to the mean. Is it really a change or just a deviation?
10. What would Bayes do? Predicting future based on the past data.
11. Do it like Darwin. Give equal weight for the arguments that opposes yours.
12. Think with system 2. Daniel Kahneman's thinking systems 1 & 2.

Chapter 3. Eye-opening problem-solving.

13. Peer review your perspectives.
14. Find your own flaws. Assume that your also responsible for the conflict.
15. Separate correlation from causation.
16. Storytelling in reverse. Use Fishbone diagram.
17. SCAMPER-method.
18. Get back to first principles. Don't assume too much. Leave yourself with only a set of facts and a desired outcome.

Chapter 4. Anti-mental models: How avoidance breeds success

19. Avoid direct goals. Articulate the factors involved in a worst-case scenario, then devote your time to preventing them.
20. Avoid thinking like an expert. Remember details.
21. Avoid your non-genius zones. Understand where you will have the most impact.
22. Avoid to-do lists. Constract instead don't do lists.
23. Avoid the path of least resistance. If something appears too easy, it might not be worth it.

Chapter 5. Oldies but goodies: they're still around for a reason.

24. Murphy's law. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Make sure that you are as fail-safe as possible.
25. Occam's razor. The simplest explanations with the fewest variables is most likely to be the correct one.
26. Hanlon's razor. Improve your relationships by assuming that one's intentions are good but he might be incompetent or neglecting.
27. Pareto principle. 80/20 rule.
28. Sturgeon's law. 90% of everything is crap so be selective.
29. Parkinson's law #1. Triviality can easily set in because it feels good to feel productive.
30. Parkinson's law #2. Work expands to the time it is given, so give it less time.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 1 out of 5]

How do you make decisions? Mental models endeavors to answer this question and does not do it well.

In a format which made it sometimes hard to follow the author's reasoning, some really terrible logic, with more fallacies than true help, I could not find more than one or two nuggets in this book worth considering.

The best part? The explanation of the SCAMPER model was somewhat solid. The Eisenhower matrix. I'll give a stars for trying to explain concepts in a clear manner. That's it.

As for the rest? Sometimes the author muddles more than helps. He has a definite bias against anyone whom he might see as a superior in education or intellect, cautioning against being too educated or thinking you know too much, making an argument for ignorance which was on occasion somewhat surprising. Honestly? I would be inclined to give this reasoning a chance if it were backed up with anything more than the author's own feelings on the matter.

Overall, I felt this book was something of a mess, reading more like an outline at time, and certainly not helpful in decision-making at all.

[Rohit Srivastava · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've been gone through various self help books and found them wanting, this book is for you.

[Yugal Jindle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed by the depth & the sincerity

The Good
1. Logically arranged a broad set of mental models under 4 themes, which make them very actionable when you’re executing in that theme.
2. Explains with examples and has sprinkles of deeper insights (not highlighted). Thankfully avoids some trivial description of the titles.

The Gaps
1. Many Mental Model titles are not clear enough, confusing at first.
2. Known mental models like “Circle of competence” are missing but are referred to at places as “zone of genius” (why dodge the popular reference)
3. Book starts with a brief acknowledgement of Charlie munger & lattice work of theory, but during the chapters the munger’s narrative is less pronounced (you’ll notice only if you’ve read the almanack)
4. There are real insights mentioned during the chapter which shine through, but are not highlighted or discussed at all. You will miss them if not reading with intensity. Wonder why?
5. Not purely Mental Models – Books lists “tricks / thumb rules” as models (eg: “Minimize Regret”) and no mention of what it models. Deeper analysis surfaces the same model mentioned under different titles.

On a high level,
- Liked the book as it attempts to put them in logical themes with some insights, is not a long read and is overall useful.
- Often confused with frameworks, a book on Mental models do not clarify and repeats the same deeper models as different models.
- Feels like the book was half heartedly written or rushed to pack together a list.
- Funny enough, they probably forgot to apply the mental models on the book itself.

Overall,
it’s a book about using a few mental models (not clearly recognized) in 30 different ways. Sadly, this book can lead you off-track and not realize the “models” that nature presents into thinking them as a list of tricks. What this book really gives you is a checklist when dealing with problem solving in general which is undoubtedly helpful but not doing justice with “mental models”.

[CARMONA ANIBAL H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lectura obligada para cualquier persona que quiera mejorar sus habilidades de pensamiento crítico

Este libro es una lectura obligada para cualquier persona que quiera mejorar sus habilidades de pensamiento crítico, toma de decisiones y resolución de problemas. El autor ofrece una guía clara y concisa de 30 modelos mentales diferentes, cada uno diseñado para ayudarte a abordar problemas y decisiones desde una perspectiva diferente.

Lo que hace que este libro sea único es lo práctico y aplicable que es el consejo que ofrece. El autor no solo explica los modelos, sino que también proporciona ejemplos del mundo real de cómo se pueden aplicar a diferentes escenarios. Esto convierte al libro en un recurso valioso para cualquiera que desee mejorar sus habilidades de resolución de problemas en su vida personal o profesional.

Una de las principales fortalezas del libro es cómo descompone problemas complejos en piezas más pequeñas y manejables. Los modelos mentales presentados en el libro ayudan a los lectores a identificar las causas subyacentes de un problema y proporcionan un marco para desarrollar soluciones efectivas.

En general, "Modelos mentales" es un libro altamente interesante y esclarecedor que seguramente beneficiará a cualquier persona que quiera mejorar sus habilidades de pensamiento crítico y abordar la resolución de problemas de una manera más efectiva y eficiente. Lo recomiendo encarecidamente a cualquier persona que busque obtener una ventaja competitiva en el mundo actual acelerado y en constante cambio.

[Ashwin Mb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cross-posted from Medium:
https://mbashiyer.medium.com/mental-m...


A super quick read (< 2 hours) on 30 techniques to help with goal setting, decision-making and strategic thinking.

I would recommend this book to young professionals only. It has limited benefits for seasoned professionals. Some useful notes from the book include:
1. Decision Making: Aim to make difficult decisions based on 40–70% of the information — less than that and you don't have sufficient information and more than that has higher opportunity costs.

2. Minimize regret: Consult your future self when making big decisions. Ask yourself, “In X number of years, will I regret taking this action (or not taking this action)?”

3. Invert: If setting goals and to-do lists don't work for you, invert them. Instead of setting out, “I want to have a focused day at work. Invert and say: I want to avoid distractions — A and B.”

4. Some classics like (1) Sturgeon’s Law — on average 90% of what we do is useless — so, focus on building that 10% ; (2) Parkison’s law — work expands to fill time, so set tighter deadlines, and triviality can set because if feels good to feel productive, so focus on real priorities.

[Harsh Tyagi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book begins as a guide that takes abstract ideas about thinking and makes them practical. Peter Hollins presents mental models not as distant theories but as everyday tools to carry around in one’s mental pocket.

Through carefully explained examples, each model feels less like a heavy academic concept and more like a lens anyone could actually use to cut through confusion. The writing aims to make the reader see clarity as a skill. The book feels less like a manual and more like a conversation about reshaping how one approaches decisions in work and life.

The book is quite compact, devoid of filler or jargon. It talks to the point, and that's everything. The experience of reading felt less like being taught and more like being invited to think differently. The insights are useful. It is the style of communication that makes them durable. It is the kind of work that can be revisited at different stages of life, and each time it might offer something new.

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, that didn't quite cut it for me.

This is a quickly put together mish-mash of advice without much context or background to them. It's possible that some of you might find the content of this book helpful, but if you've read some self-improvement before, you'll find a lot of repurposed, streamline content from other books. Don't get impressed too quickly by the number 30, which leads you to believe there's a lot of stuff here. It could've been cut to 8 or 10 it would've been a better book.

I mean, if you need someone to tell you that you should avoid thinking like an expert or to ignore statistical outliers to focus on the bigger picture... there are some steps you should take in your life before reading this book.

[Erik Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding material Peter! I will wait to give you the “Tim Ferriss” award title until I read the next book I just purchased on self-learning. That being said, any time someone starts a book with a story involving Charlie Munger, that author has my attention. The key is to keep it with meaningful material, and that is exactly what you accomplished. I will be keeping this book as a life reference resource and will return to it frequently.

My only recommendation is that you have an editor review the book for mostly grammatical and flow choices. This may just be the way I like to read.

[Andrea Huggard-Caine Reti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Worth every word

This is a book for people who like down to the point, effective and concise reading. The book is well organized and flows very well. All models are briefly described, a analogy is provided to make them clear and a an explanation of why they are important.

Most models you have probably heard about or already use,but read the book as a refresher course of why you should do continue to use them, now with a purpose. I am sure you will also find some new inspiration on the way. I really enjoyed it. Please keep on writing,

[M Fernando · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mental Models" by Peter Hollins offers a commendable exploration of various cognitive frameworks. While some models may be familiar, Hollins presents a blend of well-known and insightful concepts, making the book a valuable resource. The practicality of certain models enhances their applicability to daily life, providing readers with a substantial reservoir of knowledge to enrich their decision-making processes. I found the book to be a worthwhile investment, extracting significant insights from select mental models that can positively impact one's approach to living.

[Soumya · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mental Models by Peter Hollins is a gem for anyone who values clear thinking and better decision-making.
It’s concise, practical, and packed with tools you can apply instantly in work and life. I love that it doesn’t drown you in theory — each mental model is explained simply, with actionable steps.

It’s the kind of book you can finish in a weekend, but will keep coming back to (I’ve bookmarked it extensively!). If you’re looking for a quick yet powerful upgrade to your thinking toolkit, this is it.

[Arun Pandiyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are ambitious but don't have at least ten to twenty mental models readily available, you're going to struggle a lot in life, especially in your twenties. My preferred mental models are the Pareto Principle, Asset-Liability, Time Value of Money, Inversion, Compounding, Paradox of Choice, First Principles Thinking, and Opportunity Cost. All my decisions are subconsciously dictated by these models, as I use them every day. One excellent mental model I learned from this book is the Fishbone Diagram.

[Matt Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book outlining multiple critical thinking tools to use in staying on target for a goal and understanding how things can impact such a goal. The "anti-goal" chapter is wonderfully powerful in challenging the reader in thinking in opposite as a method of discovery (for instance, asking what you could do today to completely waste your time and resources).

Will be recommending to fellow business leaders and entrepreneurs.

[Kevin Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly didn't have a lot of expectations for this book, but it proved to be a wealth of information.

Some of the techniques taught herein are practically self evident, but others are far less so. Some of it is simple if you just think about what you're doing, while others are things I never would have considered on my own.

For anyone who wants to elevate their analytical mind and separate themselves from the crowd, this book is worth its weight in gold.

[Nick Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read and great resource

I constantly assess and use mental models, both in the classroom and as management tools. This book is a fantastic introduction to these tools. And it’s largely that: an introduction. If you’re looking for deep dives on these mental models, you will likely be disappointed. However, If you’re a “big picture” person, you’ll appreciate the brevity and conciseness.

[Achal Kagwad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mental Models: 30 Thinking Tools that Separate the Average From the Exceptional. Improved Decision-Making, Logical Analysis, and Problem-Solving.

Will Write a Review Soon

[Otha G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely Organized With Clear Use Cases

I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to build or complement a decision making toolbox. Some of the models overlap and shadow each other which, in my opinion, helps reinforce the learning of each principle. I will certainly have a look at other works by this author.

[Henry]

Who takes the time to learn how to think? Not many, but everyone should. This book is a quick, well-written treatise on thinking and decision-making. Each method is defined in enough detail to either give you the steps necessary to employ the method or pique your interest to find out more about it. There were several topics that I bookmarked and shared with my coworkers.