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O Tigre e a Serpente
Tomamos 10.000 decisões por dia. A maior parte delas têm pouca ou nenhuma importância. Outras são absolutamente decisivas. Se quer decidir bem, comece por ler este texto. Só no que diz respeito à comida, em média tomamos 227 decisões por dia (café ou descafeinado? Italiana ou a bica cheia?). Se forem questões mais complexas (compra de casa, a escola dos filhos, férias) o número de decisões envolvidas dispara. E a informação que temos de reunir e processar é praticamente infinita. Noreena Hertz, uma das mais relevantes pensadoras britânicas da actualidade, passou parte da vida a aconselhar governos, primeiros-ministros e grandes corporações.
Quando ficou seriamente doente, apercebeu-se de que os médicos não acertavam no diagnóstico. O facto chocou-a: queria tomar uma decisão baseada na opinião de especialistas, mas estes falhavam. Ao tentar perceber porquê, começou a pesquisar a fundo o processo de tomada de decisões, quer na esfera privada, quer a nível governamental ou empresarial. O resultado foi O Tigre e a Serpente, uma obra notável, multidisciplinar, que alerta para os entraves a uma decisão correcta – a opinião dos peritos, a manipulação da informação – e apresenta soluções testadas empiricamente para os contornar. Por outras palavras, se quer tomar decisões inteligentes, pode começar por esta: leia o livro.
Quando ficou seriamente doente, apercebeu-se de que os médicos não acertavam no diagnóstico. O facto chocou-a: queria tomar uma decisão baseada na opinião de especialistas, mas estes falhavam. Ao tentar perceber porquê, começou a pesquisar a fundo o processo de tomada de decisões, quer na esfera privada, quer a nível governamental ou empresarial. O resultado foi O Tigre e a Serpente, uma obra notável, multidisciplinar, que alerta para os entraves a uma decisão correcta – a opinião dos peritos, a manipulação da informação – e apresenta soluções testadas empiricamente para os contornar. Por outras palavras, se quer tomar decisões inteligentes, pode começar por esta: leia o livro.
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
65 people are currently reading
1184 people want to read
About the author
Noreena Hertz
14 books87 followersNoreena Hertz is a renowned thought leader, academic, and broadcaster who was named by The Observer “one of the world’s leading thinkers” and by Vogue “one of the world’s most inspiring women.” Her previous bestsellers—The Silent Takeover, The Debt Threat, and Eyes Wide Open—have been published in more than twenty countries, and her opinion pieces have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Financial Times. She has hosted her own show on SiriusXM and spoken at TED, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and Google Zeitgeist. Hertz holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD from Cambridge University and is based at University College London, where she holds an honorary professorship.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 22, 2014
As a self-help book, which is what this seems to be as opposed to an academic text on the subject, I think it's clearly laid out, readable and with a helpful number of questions to ask yourself.
The author spends chapter eight warning you about numbers and how they are presented, warning us about failure to mention baselines and reasonable comparative numbers. Then later in the book(perhaps to test if we have been paying attention) the author fails to give a baseline comparison and manipulates the presentation of the scenario to make her point. And she probably does this throughout the book, but perhaps my eyes were not so wide open.
"Indeed, former employees of the now defunct bank Lehman Brothers have told the Harvard Business Review that voicing dissent there was considered a career-breaker. Perhaps if it hadn’t been, the bank’s leadership would have thought twice about taking on so much debt and using creative accounting to inflate its assets (at the time of its collapse Lehman had $ 1 in the bank for every $ 30 of its liabilities)."
Lehman's "creative" use of Repo 105 was inexcusable but in the sentence above the author makes it sound as if other banks were not leveraged at all.
I think it was irresponsible for banks to be so highly leveraged so I do agree with the overall point but I nevertheless think that a simple comparison of where Lehman's leverage stood compared to other banks at the time and other banks today would have been a fairer presentation of the above point. (And more in line with the author's own recommendations).
The author spends chapter eight warning you about numbers and how they are presented, warning us about failure to mention baselines and reasonable comparative numbers. Then later in the book(perhaps to test if we have been paying attention) the author fails to give a baseline comparison and manipulates the presentation of the scenario to make her point. And she probably does this throughout the book, but perhaps my eyes were not so wide open.
"Indeed, former employees of the now defunct bank Lehman Brothers have told the Harvard Business Review that voicing dissent there was considered a career-breaker. Perhaps if it hadn’t been, the bank’s leadership would have thought twice about taking on so much debt and using creative accounting to inflate its assets (at the time of its collapse Lehman had $ 1 in the bank for every $ 30 of its liabilities)."
Lehman's "creative" use of Repo 105 was inexcusable but in the sentence above the author makes it sound as if other banks were not leveraged at all.
I think it was irresponsible for banks to be so highly leveraged so I do agree with the overall point but I nevertheless think that a simple comparison of where Lehman's leverage stood compared to other banks at the time and other banks today would have been a fairer presentation of the above point. (And more in line with the author's own recommendations).
October 30, 2013
Eyes Wide Open: How to make smart decisions in a confusing world. An important book, one that should be read by everyone, and then kept handy as a reference.
A word about me: I consistently test out in the 99th percentile for logic and analytic reasoning ability and made a concerted effort to raise my children as thoughtful skeptics. I learned a great deal from this gem of a book and found it an enjoyable read. It's written in plain enough prose to make it easy for anyone to grasp the principles presented.
The author presents many documented examples as she explains the difficulties we face in making decisions, whether considering our health, our work, our money, our security, or a hundred other things, as well as the peril that can accompany faulty decisions. The section on digital information is amazing, giving lots of help in learning how to evaluate the enormous number of disparate voices and ideas.
Most people will find the maths section illuminating, especially if they've struggled with maths concepts or feel anxiety just thinking about math (don't worry, you don't need to learn everything about math, but you'll learn how to see, often at a glance, if someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes). Throughout, the author gives useful tips on what to watch for, what to be suspicious of, and how to confirm what seems to be true.
Each chapter has a list of "Quick Tips" that not only summarize what she has just explained, but provide a great reference as well as a checklist. She discusses basics from a human body standpoint: how eating, sleeping, and emotions alter our decision-making abilities, and how we can manage them to make better decisions. All in all, she pares down what seems overwhelming to almost everyone living today to much more manageable terms. I can safely promise that this book will give you greater expertise and confidence in facing the multitude of decisions of modern data-overload life.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I'm glad to have it on my shelf!
A word about me: I consistently test out in the 99th percentile for logic and analytic reasoning ability and made a concerted effort to raise my children as thoughtful skeptics. I learned a great deal from this gem of a book and found it an enjoyable read. It's written in plain enough prose to make it easy for anyone to grasp the principles presented.
The author presents many documented examples as she explains the difficulties we face in making decisions, whether considering our health, our work, our money, our security, or a hundred other things, as well as the peril that can accompany faulty decisions. The section on digital information is amazing, giving lots of help in learning how to evaluate the enormous number of disparate voices and ideas.
Most people will find the maths section illuminating, especially if they've struggled with maths concepts or feel anxiety just thinking about math (don't worry, you don't need to learn everything about math, but you'll learn how to see, often at a glance, if someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes). Throughout, the author gives useful tips on what to watch for, what to be suspicious of, and how to confirm what seems to be true.
Each chapter has a list of "Quick Tips" that not only summarize what she has just explained, but provide a great reference as well as a checklist. She discusses basics from a human body standpoint: how eating, sleeping, and emotions alter our decision-making abilities, and how we can manage them to make better decisions. All in all, she pares down what seems overwhelming to almost everyone living today to much more manageable terms. I can safely promise that this book will give you greater expertise and confidence in facing the multitude of decisions of modern data-overload life.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I'm glad to have it on my shelf!
November 18, 2013
I really loved some of the anecdotes and asides. On one level the book follows a format of 'self-improvement' books with lessons to take away but there was plenty here which does encourage genuine reflection on how you make the decisions you do and how we place far too much trust in so-called experts.
January 3, 2014
I thought this book amazing. Whilst dealing with quite a heavy subject matter, the many stories made it really easy to understand.
I thought this would be a heavy, intellectual book which I'd just glance at, but in fact I became absolutely absorbed, and read it all.
Highly recommended
I thought this would be a heavy, intellectual book which I'd just glance at, but in fact I became absolutely absorbed, and read it all.
Highly recommended
June 19, 2023
“…and brain switched on”. Insightful tactics for making complex and important decisions.
July 16, 2025
I loved this book and it really opens your eyes to how much of the information we receive everyday is manipulated to achieve a certain outcome. we should all question everything.
November 5, 2013
How do we make decisions? What facts do we consider? Reject? Accept? Ignore? Research? How can we be sure we are considering all the facts?
Hertz’s Eyes Wide Open helps the reader consider these questions and many more. She challenges our naïve beliefs regarding how we trust information and provides us with solid “real life” advice and practices in a well-researched and motivational approach. (I found “Step Eight” – a section about using “maths” – as the most helpful and intriguing chapter.) She has solid considerations and techniques to use in discerning various types of information while celebrating the exciting information age we are navigating, and the text aids the reader in feeling less overwhelmed by all the readily available knowledge out there. The most difficult aspect of this book, however, was how long it rambles on with many summative sections, pointless and unfocused facts, simplified common sense, and redundant accounts. Overall, I’m glad I read Hertz’s text and feel much more capable of handling important decision-making situations. I think it’s useful for all sorts of individuals, regardless of their professional rank. So, if you are able to “muster up” the desire, I recommend this read to those interested in a motivational writing style and stimulating facts.
Hertz’s Eyes Wide Open helps the reader consider these questions and many more. She challenges our naïve beliefs regarding how we trust information and provides us with solid “real life” advice and practices in a well-researched and motivational approach. (I found “Step Eight” – a section about using “maths” – as the most helpful and intriguing chapter.) She has solid considerations and techniques to use in discerning various types of information while celebrating the exciting information age we are navigating, and the text aids the reader in feeling less overwhelmed by all the readily available knowledge out there. The most difficult aspect of this book, however, was how long it rambles on with many summative sections, pointless and unfocused facts, simplified common sense, and redundant accounts. Overall, I’m glad I read Hertz’s text and feel much more capable of handling important decision-making situations. I think it’s useful for all sorts of individuals, regardless of their professional rank. So, if you are able to “muster up” the desire, I recommend this read to those interested in a motivational writing style and stimulating facts.
December 15, 2016
I love the idea of having many friends or colleagues who want to challenge themselves and better themselves in so many ways. I'm fortunate to have my husband who is like this, and one friend. It's sad that the majority of people are just content with being mediocre.
December 10, 2013
I found this book full of information, cautions when making major decision and fascinating information that will be useful in the future.
October 6, 2013
excellent read. insightful. wonderful case studies. reminded me of the Freakonomics books. recommended!
February 23, 2021
Though seven years old now some of this book stands up well..especially as now in these pandemic wrought time filtering decent information from experts,laymen and charlatans well...its ongoing.
The book speaks really about questioning everything, pausing before running in and being aware experts aren't always such.
In honesty the mistrust of experts thing is the only thing I think has radically changed in recent years..maybe for the worse...I think now we maybe doubt the experts far too much so maybe we need to check this and use the skills in this book to validate the experts too.
It is however interesting to see where the experts have had a lesser grasp and certainly much can be said for a more holistic grasp on decision making.
A lot of this book I do anyhow..I do look how statistics are skewered ..I do check credentials of experts or whom owns a media outlet or site in regard bias.
The one thing I'm bad at is doing the thing of retaining friends of opposing views on social media..this is a thing I need to address..it's like the Beastie boys said 'if your world was all black or your world was all white .you wouldn't get much colour out of life now right?'..I may paraphrase that lyric but yeah .. Its true and the close of the book stressed the importance of not just having friends who wholly agree with us.
Anyhow enjoyed this ..and I'm not a self help type of guy much of the time.
The book speaks really about questioning everything, pausing before running in and being aware experts aren't always such.
In honesty the mistrust of experts thing is the only thing I think has radically changed in recent years..maybe for the worse...I think now we maybe doubt the experts far too much so maybe we need to check this and use the skills in this book to validate the experts too.
It is however interesting to see where the experts have had a lesser grasp and certainly much can be said for a more holistic grasp on decision making.
A lot of this book I do anyhow..I do look how statistics are skewered ..I do check credentials of experts or whom owns a media outlet or site in regard bias.
The one thing I'm bad at is doing the thing of retaining friends of opposing views on social media..this is a thing I need to address..it's like the Beastie boys said 'if your world was all black or your world was all white .you wouldn't get much colour out of life now right?'..I may paraphrase that lyric but yeah .. Its true and the close of the book stressed the importance of not just having friends who wholly agree with us.
Anyhow enjoyed this ..and I'm not a self help type of guy much of the time.
May 5, 2018
Each day we make thousands of decisions. The majority is trivial, but some decisions can have a real impact on our lives and the lives of others.
Today’s information overkill doesn’t help, it can easily overwhelm and bamboozle us.
Often, just some cleverly placed words will sway us (ever bought a scientifically proven age-defying beauty product?) and a sombre look on the so-called-experts really makes you wonder whom to trust.
Shall you turn to the internet? But how do you even know if you’re reading genuine people’s posts or clever ads? And that’s all before numbers and graphs have us scurrying for cover.
In this well researched and fluently written book, Noreena Hertz shows up the pitfalls and contradictions of our minds and why we’re likely to get tangled up in them.
But, I hear you cry, do we really need another book on decision-making? Will that not just make us more neurotic about what to do?
Well…while there is nothing radically new and ground breaking in this book, just reading about and reflecting on all the numerous ways data can be bend to someone’s agenda is really useful. There is also some good advice on how to improve our thinking skills. Especially the chapter on why maths matters I found utterly fascinating.
Sharpen your mind or go with the herd, it’s your decision.
Today’s information overkill doesn’t help, it can easily overwhelm and bamboozle us.
Often, just some cleverly placed words will sway us (ever bought a scientifically proven age-defying beauty product?) and a sombre look on the so-called-experts really makes you wonder whom to trust.
Shall you turn to the internet? But how do you even know if you’re reading genuine people’s posts or clever ads? And that’s all before numbers and graphs have us scurrying for cover.
In this well researched and fluently written book, Noreena Hertz shows up the pitfalls and contradictions of our minds and why we’re likely to get tangled up in them.
But, I hear you cry, do we really need another book on decision-making? Will that not just make us more neurotic about what to do?
Well…while there is nothing radically new and ground breaking in this book, just reading about and reflecting on all the numerous ways data can be bend to someone’s agenda is really useful. There is also some good advice on how to improve our thinking skills. Especially the chapter on why maths matters I found utterly fascinating.
Sharpen your mind or go with the herd, it’s your decision.
August 10, 2022
The aim of the book is to highlight areas where our decision making skills can fall down. The book does a good job at describing and categorising these. Examples are used that illuminate and bring to life how these misconceptions can manifest. The examples also serve as good reminders when links between different areas are made.
However, the other aim of the book (and the one I felt would be more useful) was to give solutions to help improve or avoid these fallacies. This is done, but often in a very limited way - it sometimes feels like the solution is to "be careful" to not fall into the trap. At this point the good choice of examples probably hides the difficulty of this in real life, by being so clear cut. There are also points when some of the problems around decision making can go too far each way, and one often has the feeling that it must just be "judged correctly".
I may be expecting too much, as there is no algorithm to live life by, but I am conscious that being aware of a fallacy doesn't necessarily do much to reduce ones susceptibility to it, so I think I was expecting more.
This isn't to say that there isn't any concrete advice, and I do think the issues and topics raised are great. The summary at the end of the chapters is also very good to focus on.
However, the other aim of the book (and the one I felt would be more useful) was to give solutions to help improve or avoid these fallacies. This is done, but often in a very limited way - it sometimes feels like the solution is to "be careful" to not fall into the trap. At this point the good choice of examples probably hides the difficulty of this in real life, by being so clear cut. There are also points when some of the problems around decision making can go too far each way, and one often has the feeling that it must just be "judged correctly".
I may be expecting too much, as there is no algorithm to live life by, but I am conscious that being aware of a fallacy doesn't necessarily do much to reduce ones susceptibility to it, so I think I was expecting more.
This isn't to say that there isn't any concrete advice, and I do think the issues and topics raised are great. The summary at the end of the chapters is also very good to focus on.
May 8, 2020
"𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.
𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭.
𝘉𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭.
𝘌𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵.
𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.
𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬.
𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘶���𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘺.
𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬.
𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣."
Noreena Hertz's book clearly has good intentions and makes a good job of indicating some steps that should guide you in your decision-making process.
As a self-help book, this isn't the most memorable one or the one that it's structured in the most convenient way. I really like how at the end of each chapter the information was summarized in some 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙨, easy to understand and remember.
This book was too long for what it was, but the advice given is truly valuable.
𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭.
𝘉𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭.
𝘌𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵.
𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.
𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬.
𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘶���𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘺.
𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬.
𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣."
Noreena Hertz's book clearly has good intentions and makes a good job of indicating some steps that should guide you in your decision-making process.
As a self-help book, this isn't the most memorable one or the one that it's structured in the most convenient way. I really like how at the end of each chapter the information was summarized in some 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙨, easy to understand and remember.
This book was too long for what it was, but the advice given is truly valuable.
March 14, 2021
I fell in love with the work of Noreena Hertz when I read her newest book The Lonely Century, and she quickly became one of my new favorite psychology authors. As someone who loves to read books on thinking flaws and decision making, I was ecstatic when I found out that she had another book called Eyes Wide Open, which is all about this subject. I've personally read dozens of books on this subject, so it's difficult to provide me with a new perspective or different spin on research, but Noreena nailed it. Just like in The Lonely Century, Noreena has an ability to fill in the gaps that other authors leave open while also providing a unique view on these interesting subjects. If you want to become a better decision maker, you need this book ASAP.
January 3, 2018
I’m sure that there is an audience out there who will love this book, but if you - as I did - have read e.g. “thinking fast and slow” or “how emotions are made”, then this book does not add much (in my humble opinion). As a fan of books in general, and out of respect for authors who take the time to write down and share their thoughts, I will rarely say that “a book is not good”. Instead, as for this book, I prefer to say: “given what I have read previously about this topic, this book was not very appealing to me”. I’m sure for others it will be...
April 24, 2019
Interesting facts & examples
Feels a bit like an extended bullet point list / speaker notes for a presentation
Feels a bit like an extended bullet point list / speaker notes for a presentation
December 21, 2019
Great mix of academic and real life support to practical approaches on how to navigate the acceleration of signals we receive today when making decisions great and small
August 5, 2020
This is an excellent book.
June 23, 2021
If anything, this book made me want to see what she has written since this book was published in 2013, especially since that time so many people get their information from social media.
March 17, 2021
كتاب جميل يحتوي على الكثير من المعلومات
نادرا ما تجد كتاب يتحدث عن العصر الحالي وما يتضمنه من تطور تكنولوجي و وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وكيف يجب اخذ الحيطة والحظر عند التعامل مع الكم الهائل من البرامج والتطبيقات
لكني اظن ان ترجمة الكتاب الصادره من مكتبة جرير ظلمت الكتاب قليلا
نادرا ما تجد كتاب يتحدث عن العصر الحالي وما يتضمنه من تطور تكنولوجي و وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وكيف يجب اخذ الحيطة والحظر عند التعامل مع الكم الهائل من البرامج والتطبيقات
لكني اظن ان ترجمة الكتاب الصادره من مكتبة جرير ظلمت الكتاب قليلا
August 2, 2014
So was my brain switched off while reading an expert book on decision making? That's what the book implies we do anytime we listen to experts on any subject. We can even be experts in the field ourselves, still we switch off..
The author points out these are times of great uncertainty for some, for me certainly yes and that's probably why I am clutching at straws and reading books of the kind.
Still, I loved the book.
Seems to be giving me more strength not to over think in isolation.
There are examples of research showing how crucial decisions of judges,or patients decisions over their health etc. can be influenced radically by things such as whether the judge has had a breakfast, or red colour of a leaflet giving you crucial info related to your health, the colour potentially being the main factor influencing your decision.
There are great examples of why and how to try and listen to lay experts and to avoid the state of less functioning brain in the presence of experts.
I also love Hertz's confidence in our emotions and how they work for us as long as we do pay attention.
The author points out these are times of great uncertainty for some, for me certainly yes and that's probably why I am clutching at straws and reading books of the kind.
Still, I loved the book.
Seems to be giving me more strength not to over think in isolation.
There are examples of research showing how crucial decisions of judges,or patients decisions over their health etc. can be influenced radically by things such as whether the judge has had a breakfast, or red colour of a leaflet giving you crucial info related to your health, the colour potentially being the main factor influencing your decision.
There are great examples of why and how to try and listen to lay experts and to avoid the state of less functioning brain in the presence of experts.
I also love Hertz's confidence in our emotions and how they work for us as long as we do pay attention.
October 11, 2013
Have you experience buyer’s remorse? Who hasn’t had regret after having made a purchase? This book looks into the rationale on how we make our decisions on what we buy, eat, and even the doctors we trust to do our surgery. It explores the concept of “experts” and how even the “experts” can be flawed in their thinking. In the end, after numerous examples of how we are influenced by color, words, and “facts”, the author encourages us to become our own “expert” and not give our power of making decisions to others. There are some ideas in the book on how to make better choices and be your own advocate in your life. It’s an easy to read book with extensive research notes.
November 2, 2013
Very good. 4.5 An intriguing look at how we make decisions along with suggestions on how to improve the process and results. Lots of memorable tidbits; for example:
....we make approximately 10,000 trivial decisions a day
....12 publishers turned down the first Harry Potter novel (Rowling went to publish 450 millions books in the series and made $4.5 billion dollars overall
....it is best to gather different expert opinions and do what you can to become well-informed yourself
....when a crowd is diverse, decentralized and opinions are independent of each other decisions are typically better than other methods.
....we make approximately 10,000 trivial decisions a day
....12 publishers turned down the first Harry Potter novel (Rowling went to publish 450 millions books in the series and made $4.5 billion dollars overall
....it is best to gather different expert opinions and do what you can to become well-informed yourself
....when a crowd is diverse, decentralized and opinions are independent of each other decisions are typically better than other methods.
December 30, 2013
I received this book as part of the first reads program. I really enjoyed this book, and found it comparable to many books written by Malcolm Gladwell. Many of the authors' points are well reinforced by research findings; they are both informative and educational. Each chapter offers examples of downfalls that many of us practice when thinking and making decisions, as well as ways to overcome these downfalls. At the conclusion of each chapter, there are walkways and action steps to put into play. Anyone wanting to look at different views of decision making should read this book.
October 18, 2016
This is a great exercise in critical thinking and a good insight for anyone who doesn't really understand statistics and the way they are manipulated to create a more powerful story than they often deserve. The motivation behind scientific reporting is also covered well here and Noreena's style encourages almost a sense of outrage at the clumsy or deliberate attempt by media and others to misreport risk and danger. It gives credence to the misquote of A.E Housman that "people use statistics as a drunk uses a lamppost, more for support than illumination". Definitely worth a read!
March 4, 2014
A quickly-read collection of examples of how to be observant on available information and listening carefully before making decisions or form your opinions.
Most of the stuff was very familiar, and I wouldn't have rated it even three stars. However, the chapters on online data and trends as well as the risks of sameness and conformity were really good and enough to lift the book into the three-star category.
Most of the stuff was very familiar, and I wouldn't have rated it even three stars. However, the chapters on online data and trends as well as the risks of sameness and conformity were really good and enough to lift the book into the three-star category.
August 19, 2016
A book about being smart in real life as it is today. Take nothing at face value, look out for the right informations, have a good night sleep, take your time to think and don´t take important decisions on empty stomach. Empower yourself. These are the ideas this book will give you as well as many others. Not hard to read and it will tell you something. Reading this book is not a waste of time.
October 6, 2014
Great guidebook. Don't accept every info. Question everything. Avoid confirmation bias. Contextualize everything. Examine your emotions. A self-help book without the mumbo jumbo. Packed with research and data. A very useful read.
September 19, 2015
This book provides an overview of how and why people make decision and gives guidance on how to improve your decision making process.
I found this book very interesting in places and thought some of the examples were good.
I found this book very interesting in places and thought some of the examples were good.
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