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Optionality: How to Survive and Thrive in a Volatile World
Not Sure What the Future Holds? No Problem.
It’s hard not to be worried about the future, especially if you just lost your job, are trying to plan your career, or are suddenly missing thousands of dollars from your retirement account.
In Optionality, finance columnist Richard Meadows lays out a time-tested strategy for not only becoming resilient to shocks, but positioning yourself to profit from an unpredictable world.
Learn how to:
• Find investment opportunities with open-ended upside, and maximise the chance of a 'moonshot' success
• Make life-changing choices under conditions of uncertainty
• Achieve the kind of financial freedom that lets you live life on your own terms
• Protect against disaster, build support networks, and create a safety buffer of resilience in every area of life
• Develop a systems approach to making your own luck
Optionality is the key to navigating an uncertain world.
In this entertaining and insightful debut, Meadows delivers a timely message: optionality has never been so valuable, and only those who have it will survive and thrive.
It’s hard not to be worried about the future, especially if you just lost your job, are trying to plan your career, or are suddenly missing thousands of dollars from your retirement account.
In Optionality, finance columnist Richard Meadows lays out a time-tested strategy for not only becoming resilient to shocks, but positioning yourself to profit from an unpredictable world.
Learn how to:
• Find investment opportunities with open-ended upside, and maximise the chance of a 'moonshot' success
• Make life-changing choices under conditions of uncertainty
• Achieve the kind of financial freedom that lets you live life on your own terms
• Protect against disaster, build support networks, and create a safety buffer of resilience in every area of life
• Develop a systems approach to making your own luck
Optionality is the key to navigating an uncertain world.
In this entertaining and insightful debut, Meadows delivers a timely message: optionality has never been so valuable, and only those who have it will survive and thrive.
440 pages, Paperback
Published November 17, 2020
186 people are currently reading
2249 people want to read
About the author
Richard Meadows
1 book155 followersRichard Meadows is a finance columnist and investor. After quitting his fulltime job at age 25, he reached financial independence while backpacking around the world. Richard once wrote a story about eating pizza for 222 days in a row, and is doomed to never hear the end of it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
November 12, 2020
If Terry Pratchett sat down with Seneca and a box of beers one weekend this is how it would sound.
The author is my brother, and I've called him on his shit for more than 26 years.
This shit is awesome.
Richard has done an excellent job of pulling together many well-researched sources to produce a book that is genuinely useful to anyone with a brain and the gumption to hold the different facets of their life up to the light of self-examination for polishing or redirection.
While it does have a slant towards the realms of personal financial security, this is by no mean its only, or even its main bailiwick. It elegantly covers the creation and optimisation of social, financial, societal and health 'wealth'.
Possibly most importantly, it guides people through some solid paths to finding and creating meaning from their time upon the stage of life.
Life, as it is said, is a terminal condition (Short of Apotheosis, and I don't know many Buddas) this book offers all open minded people effective strategies to employ to help maximise their happiness and to reduce the suffering in the world as a side benefit.
I have read the pre-release e-version of this twice now and have to grudgingly concede that my little brother may have simultaneously made me impressed, envious and significantly changed my life for the better.
Despite having the e-copy for free I'll be buying at least 3 hard copies - one for myself to add copious bookmarks and note to, and one for each of my kids to have at about age 16.
The author is my brother, and I've called him on his shit for more than 26 years.
This shit is awesome.
Richard has done an excellent job of pulling together many well-researched sources to produce a book that is genuinely useful to anyone with a brain and the gumption to hold the different facets of their life up to the light of self-examination for polishing or redirection.
While it does have a slant towards the realms of personal financial security, this is by no mean its only, or even its main bailiwick. It elegantly covers the creation and optimisation of social, financial, societal and health 'wealth'.
Possibly most importantly, it guides people through some solid paths to finding and creating meaning from their time upon the stage of life.
Life, as it is said, is a terminal condition (Short of Apotheosis, and I don't know many Buddas) this book offers all open minded people effective strategies to employ to help maximise their happiness and to reduce the suffering in the world as a side benefit.
I have read the pre-release e-version of this twice now and have to grudgingly concede that my little brother may have simultaneously made me impressed, envious and significantly changed my life for the better.
Despite having the e-copy for free I'll be buying at least 3 hard copies - one for myself to add copious bookmarks and note to, and one for each of my kids to have at about age 16.
November 9, 2020
Well, that's a good read.
Richard Meadows admits it : he's a big fan of Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and so am I, so no surprise here, I enjoyed reading this book. It takes some of Taleb's most important ideas (Black Swan, asymetry, options, benefiting from volatility)... and also gives them a fresh touch !
Rich's writing is very accessible, most of the time you feel like you're having a casual conversation with the guy, who also has great humor. Also, he is point-blank telling you that the ideas he develops are from his own experience, and are not to be taken as a you-all-must-do-that-right-now advice. But this real-life experience also gives the book it's appeal because it also helps the reader connect easily to the author.
A good read to help you figure out where you're at in life in general, and some interesting and broad ideas to improve it.
Richard Meadows admits it : he's a big fan of Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and so am I, so no surprise here, I enjoyed reading this book. It takes some of Taleb's most important ideas (Black Swan, asymetry, options, benefiting from volatility)... and also gives them a fresh touch !
Rich's writing is very accessible, most of the time you feel like you're having a casual conversation with the guy, who also has great humor. Also, he is point-blank telling you that the ideas he develops are from his own experience, and are not to be taken as a you-all-must-do-that-right-now advice. But this real-life experience also gives the book it's appeal because it also helps the reader connect easily to the author.
A good read to help you figure out where you're at in life in general, and some interesting and broad ideas to improve it.
November 9, 2020
What makes this book a step above many others in the self-help category is it's solid understanding of how volatile and uncertain the world currently is. It manages to not be naïve, which is a rare and wonderful thing.
Great book for young people who are still figuring out what success means to them.
Great book for young people who are still figuring out what success means to them.
November 11, 2020
This is an acerbic, well-researched, and very insightful book filled with ideas I will endeavor to apply; Optionality is definitely worth the read. Even if you just skip to the analogy (and matching diagram!) of parallel versions of the ‘Joneses’ tumbling down different legs of the Trousers of Time while comparing how they fare in meeting different universal needs from Maslow’s hierarchy, or to the later “breezy denim hot pants of freedom” lesson, you will see the world in a new way. Lacking context that might sound silly, but those are two of the lighter moments I enjoyed, and yet they somehow fit well with the deeper lessons and philosophical insights throughout. I don’t agree with everything, but that would be very unlikely considering the breadth that is covered, and the huge array of sources including Greek concepts, economists, cartoonists, and many more.
I rate the book 5 stars based on how many notes I highlighted to re-examine later - always a good indicator of a quality non-fiction book. Minus a half star for the sometimes salty language, but I recognize that stays true to his voice as an author and others may find that relatable instead of slightly off-putting.
I rate the book 5 stars based on how many notes I highlighted to re-examine later - always a good indicator of a quality non-fiction book. Minus a half star for the sometimes salty language, but I recognize that stays true to his voice as an author and others may find that relatable instead of slightly off-putting.
November 8, 2020
A thought provoking read. Highly recommended for those looking to widen their perspective, or seeking motivation and pathways to live better. Hard to put down, the humour throughout makes it an enjoyable flowing read. Will be getting a couple of extra copies for Xmas pressies for the family in New Zealand.
November 10, 2020
This is a beautifully written book that synthesises the ideas of many thinkers to argue that the good life is a function of collecting good options (with massive upside and capped downside).
Meadows has written elsewhere about the way he uses a Zettelkasten approach in Roam Research to help him generate compound returns on the ideas he encounters. This book demonstrates that cross-pollination of ideas after a years-long reading sabbatical.
He covers why having high-quality options is the best proxy for the good life; decision making under uncertainty; using options with capped downside and open upside to build health, wealth, skills and social capital; risk management; when to deliberately constrain your options; and making meaning in a meaningless universe.
While there’s financial advice aplenty, he presents financial independence as a critical enabler, not the goal itself. We should explore more, consciously making trade-offs, allowing the good life to emerge organically, bottom-up, rather than trying to plan it top-down.
Never have I read something so profound and erudite delivered so lightly.
Meadows has written elsewhere about the way he uses a Zettelkasten approach in Roam Research to help him generate compound returns on the ideas he encounters. This book demonstrates that cross-pollination of ideas after a years-long reading sabbatical.
He covers why having high-quality options is the best proxy for the good life; decision making under uncertainty; using options with capped downside and open upside to build health, wealth, skills and social capital; risk management; when to deliberately constrain your options; and making meaning in a meaningless universe.
While there’s financial advice aplenty, he presents financial independence as a critical enabler, not the goal itself. We should explore more, consciously making trade-offs, allowing the good life to emerge organically, bottom-up, rather than trying to plan it top-down.
Never have I read something so profound and erudite delivered so lightly.
November 13, 2020
The best predictor for good writing is the writer, and I really appreciate it when I come across sincere works that only that person can produce. Like many others, I came across Richard's work through the "*How to Save $100,000 by Age 25" article on his blog the Deep Dish. At the time it felt like someone dumped an ice bucket on me yelling... What are you doing, spending all your money on worthless crap! Since then I've followed his journey to accrue what he calls in the book the "currencies of life": knowledge, financial, social and health capital - all in the pursuit of a strange little thing called optionality: the right, but not the obligation to take action.
The book draws on many timeless lessons from the likes of Naval Ravikant, Taylor Pearson, Venkatesh Rao, Kevin Simler, Cal Newport, Tyler Cowen. Although I also follow these people's work directly and was familiar with most of the concepts introduced, it was still interesting to learn about how Richard incorporated these lessons into his life and how they got him to where he is today. It never felt like I was reading an encyclopedia of mental models for creating optionality (though you could treat it that way if you want), instead it was colored with the anecdotes that only someone who has walked the walk can share, all with that unique Deep Dish comedic twist.
Key themes that spoke out to me: leverage, asymmetries, and just how applicable the barbell strategy can be for various aspects of life. The trick is to prune everything that doesn't matter to truly elevate the ones that do. The "ones that do" in this case being the things that have a capped downside but unbounded upside. One example being how you spend your money. Applying the barbell here means: splashing out on a small set of items, and be frugal with everything else. The splash-out category includes your "tools of the trade" - a laptop that whose downside is capped at $2000 and upside is unbounded when you use it to write code, design products, or publish your writing. The economical category are things like T-shirts to lounge around in. It seems simple to do, but many people are still wasting their hard earned cash with things in the middle of the barbell like a regular T-shirt that has been marked up several times in price when a logo was slapped on it.
Concrete examples and actionable tips like these run throughout the book, I won't include anymore because I'd recommend you pick it up. It's split into 6 mini-books to answer different questions of optionality: why, how, what, what if, when, and what next. Respectively, these cover: reasons you should bother with optionality, the art of decision making, where to look for asymmetries to accrue your currencies of life, risks, timing, and meaning-making. I loved that the book was structured this way because makes the content modular but still allow the concepts to build upon each other.
This is the sort of book that you wish you could gift to your younger self. It contains bookshelves-worth of how you can increase the surface area for "luck" to happen. I imagine that for an 18 year-old, stuck wondering about her place in the world, this book contains enough of what Robin Hanson calls "**viewquakes" to start looking to possibilities outside the constraints of the superficial values and zero-sum games that many are stuck playing today. No matter how old you are, this book would likely contain some viewquakes for you. In recent years I've come to believe that happiness is not the light at the end of the tunnel, it can be found in every step you take through the tunnel itself. The trick is to know where to look. Humanity has a lot more options today than at any other time in history. So if you've been feeling stuck, the best time to start looking was yesterday, but the second-best time is now.
*Link to the article I mentioned: https://thedeepdish.org/save-100000-a...
**Viewquakes: insights which dramatically change your world view
The book draws on many timeless lessons from the likes of Naval Ravikant, Taylor Pearson, Venkatesh Rao, Kevin Simler, Cal Newport, Tyler Cowen. Although I also follow these people's work directly and was familiar with most of the concepts introduced, it was still interesting to learn about how Richard incorporated these lessons into his life and how they got him to where he is today. It never felt like I was reading an encyclopedia of mental models for creating optionality (though you could treat it that way if you want), instead it was colored with the anecdotes that only someone who has walked the walk can share, all with that unique Deep Dish comedic twist.
Key themes that spoke out to me: leverage, asymmetries, and just how applicable the barbell strategy can be for various aspects of life. The trick is to prune everything that doesn't matter to truly elevate the ones that do. The "ones that do" in this case being the things that have a capped downside but unbounded upside. One example being how you spend your money. Applying the barbell here means: splashing out on a small set of items, and be frugal with everything else. The splash-out category includes your "tools of the trade" - a laptop that whose downside is capped at $2000 and upside is unbounded when you use it to write code, design products, or publish your writing. The economical category are things like T-shirts to lounge around in. It seems simple to do, but many people are still wasting their hard earned cash with things in the middle of the barbell like a regular T-shirt that has been marked up several times in price when a logo was slapped on it.
Concrete examples and actionable tips like these run throughout the book, I won't include anymore because I'd recommend you pick it up. It's split into 6 mini-books to answer different questions of optionality: why, how, what, what if, when, and what next. Respectively, these cover: reasons you should bother with optionality, the art of decision making, where to look for asymmetries to accrue your currencies of life, risks, timing, and meaning-making. I loved that the book was structured this way because makes the content modular but still allow the concepts to build upon each other.
This is the sort of book that you wish you could gift to your younger self. It contains bookshelves-worth of how you can increase the surface area for "luck" to happen. I imagine that for an 18 year-old, stuck wondering about her place in the world, this book contains enough of what Robin Hanson calls "**viewquakes" to start looking to possibilities outside the constraints of the superficial values and zero-sum games that many are stuck playing today. No matter how old you are, this book would likely contain some viewquakes for you. In recent years I've come to believe that happiness is not the light at the end of the tunnel, it can be found in every step you take through the tunnel itself. The trick is to know where to look. Humanity has a lot more options today than at any other time in history. So if you've been feeling stuck, the best time to start looking was yesterday, but the second-best time is now.
*Link to the article I mentioned: https://thedeepdish.org/save-100000-a...
**Viewquakes: insights which dramatically change your world view
November 10, 2020
This one of the best books I've ever read in my life. It's immediately obvious that Richard Meadows is a voracious reader, and this book is absolutely jam-packed with amazing quotes, lessons, and life advice. I've never heard anyone explain the concept and value of "optionality" in such a clear and insightful way, and the lessons I've learned from this book will stay with me for the rest of my life. I've highlighted more sentences and quotes than any other book that I've read in the past. Richard is an exceptionally talented writer and every chapter is extremely engaging. I couldn't put this down!
I couldn't have read Optionality at a better time. 2020 has been a tough year, and I eventually realized that I need to start forming some better habits and improve my life. I've learned so many practical strategies and lessons, and I will definitely be re-reading the book to take even more notes. One of my favorite examples is the Ship of Theseus analogy and the section about the Ulysses pact. I've learned that the best way to resist temptation is by removing it from my life, and this strategy has worked extremely well for me. This is just one example, and it's going to take me a while to go through all my highlights and notes and organize everything. I feel like I've read through Blinkist summaries of all of the best books and research that Richard has absorbed over many years, and he's neatly presented all of this information in a very accessible book.
I'm also an avid reader of Richard's blog (The Deep Dish), and it's obvious that he practices exactly what he preaches. Optionality isn't just an aspirational guide - This is a practical, non-fictional account of battle-tested strategies that have worked in Richard's own life, and I'm excited about applying these lessons to my own life. I highly recommend checking out this book, and I truly wouldn't be surprised to see this book become a New York Times Best Seller.
I couldn't have read Optionality at a better time. 2020 has been a tough year, and I eventually realized that I need to start forming some better habits and improve my life. I've learned so many practical strategies and lessons, and I will definitely be re-reading the book to take even more notes. One of my favorite examples is the Ship of Theseus analogy and the section about the Ulysses pact. I've learned that the best way to resist temptation is by removing it from my life, and this strategy has worked extremely well for me. This is just one example, and it's going to take me a while to go through all my highlights and notes and organize everything. I feel like I've read through Blinkist summaries of all of the best books and research that Richard has absorbed over many years, and he's neatly presented all of this information in a very accessible book.
I'm also an avid reader of Richard's blog (The Deep Dish), and it's obvious that he practices exactly what he preaches. Optionality isn't just an aspirational guide - This is a practical, non-fictional account of battle-tested strategies that have worked in Richard's own life, and I'm excited about applying these lessons to my own life. I highly recommend checking out this book, and I truly wouldn't be surprised to see this book become a New York Times Best Seller.
November 8, 2020
I originally stumbled on Rich Meadows writings from a post about networth and frugality on his blog a few years ago and I've been hooked ever since.
The idea of optionality is really about being prepared for whatever uncertainty is around the corner, so that it doesn't derail you and in fact allows you to prosper. By understanding that almost every option we make, however small, has a cost and a benefit you can start to gear your life towards positive assemetical options (low cost, potentially high benefit). There are loads of examples for the 4 main areas you may want to consider; finance, health, social and learning.
In summary, Richard has a really engaging writing style, conveying complex concepts into easy to understand, enjoyable and actionable ideas with the right amount of humour.
The idea of optionality is really about being prepared for whatever uncertainty is around the corner, so that it doesn't derail you and in fact allows you to prosper. By understanding that almost every option we make, however small, has a cost and a benefit you can start to gear your life towards positive assemetical options (low cost, potentially high benefit). There are loads of examples for the 4 main areas you may want to consider; finance, health, social and learning.
In summary, Richard has a really engaging writing style, conveying complex concepts into easy to understand, enjoyable and actionable ideas with the right amount of humour.
November 9, 2020
Wow! What an equally enjoyable and informative read. :) Richie explains things in such a manner that they seem so easy to understand and obvious, while also being remarkably effective. If you're looking for a personal development book which is easy to read and doesn't make you feel bad about yourself, but spurs you into action based off of your current situation and currently available resources, "Optionality" is the book for you!
November 9, 2020
This book is for anyone who feels trapped in their circumstances, or fears the prospect of ever becoming so. It offers practical ways out, as well as delving into the philosophy and psychology of happiness, meaning and the Good Life. There is much hope to be found in this book, which is cleverly written and exhaustively researched. A compelling read; you're going to want to take notes.
November 13, 2020
As uncertainty swirls around us, optionality is a framework that helps cap downside risk, expose us to opportunities for big wins, and evaluate difficult decisions.
Military strategist and fighter pilot John Boyd liked to say that the counterweight to uncertainty cannot be certainty - it must be adaptability. Optionality helps you develop the adaptability to not only survive under uncertainty but to be improved by it.
Optionality is a book I'll return to over and over. It's an operating system for flourishing - the kind of book I wish had existed when I was in college and trying to develop a philosophy of living. On top of its informational merits, of which there are many, Richard's deadpan humor also makes it a joy to read.
Military strategist and fighter pilot John Boyd liked to say that the counterweight to uncertainty cannot be certainty - it must be adaptability. Optionality helps you develop the adaptability to not only survive under uncertainty but to be improved by it.
Optionality is a book I'll return to over and over. It's an operating system for flourishing - the kind of book I wish had existed when I was in college and trying to develop a philosophy of living. On top of its informational merits, of which there are many, Richard's deadpan humor also makes it a joy to read.
November 13, 2020
I've been following Richard Meadows on his blog Deep Dish for a couple of years, and it's gratifying to see how he has organized, connected and distilled myriads of perspectives, learnings, acadamia and experience in this wonderful book 'Optionality'.
I believe we are living in a world of unprecedented and unrelentingly accelerated change, and Richard offers a pithy and entertaining guidebook to maximizing our options in this world of ours.
Enjoy! I certainly did.
I believe we are living in a world of unprecedented and unrelentingly accelerated change, and Richard offers a pithy and entertaining guidebook to maximizing our options in this world of ours.
Enjoy! I certainly did.
November 15, 2020
Any reader will likely find some pragmatic steps in 'Optionality: How to Survive and Thrive in a Volatile World' to improve at least one domain in their life.
The book lays out practical ways to maximize our exposure to positive returns in social, health, knowledge and financial capital. It highlights how optionality in all aspects of life is essential for our sense of autonomy and well-being. There are also useful tools linked in the book to help get you on your way.
What's to like about the book is that it's honest and not trying to sell false promises. Unlike some self-help books, the reader is reminded that there is never a sure or easy path to our goals even if one follow the best advice. Importantly it emphasises how we can effectively achieve resilience at the worst of times, often with a few tweaks to our behaviour. It puts into perspective where we should really focus our efforts while avoiding scenarios that offer little or no meaningful reward.
The author draws from philosophy, psychology, statistics and economics in presenting his ideas. As an Economist and Data Scientist by trade, I found the last two frameworks highly appropriate and can vouch that the concepts were presented with enough nuance. The analytical approach may limit the accessibility of this book to readers who are not so familiar with such theories, but the author does go to some length to bridge the gaps.
I first came across the Author's Deep Dish blog at the beginning of 2020. I was impressed by the diversity of topics and the casual - but effective - delivery. This book bring together all the various ideas and practical advice into a cohesive body of work.
I would recommend the book to all readers, but especially those in their 20s who probably have the most to gain from the frameworks presented.
The book lays out practical ways to maximize our exposure to positive returns in social, health, knowledge and financial capital. It highlights how optionality in all aspects of life is essential for our sense of autonomy and well-being. There are also useful tools linked in the book to help get you on your way.
What's to like about the book is that it's honest and not trying to sell false promises. Unlike some self-help books, the reader is reminded that there is never a sure or easy path to our goals even if one follow the best advice. Importantly it emphasises how we can effectively achieve resilience at the worst of times, often with a few tweaks to our behaviour. It puts into perspective where we should really focus our efforts while avoiding scenarios that offer little or no meaningful reward.
The author draws from philosophy, psychology, statistics and economics in presenting his ideas. As an Economist and Data Scientist by trade, I found the last two frameworks highly appropriate and can vouch that the concepts were presented with enough nuance. The analytical approach may limit the accessibility of this book to readers who are not so familiar with such theories, but the author does go to some length to bridge the gaps.
I first came across the Author's Deep Dish blog at the beginning of 2020. I was impressed by the diversity of topics and the casual - but effective - delivery. This book bring together all the various ideas and practical advice into a cohesive body of work.
I would recommend the book to all readers, but especially those in their 20s who probably have the most to gain from the frameworks presented.
November 11, 2020
I received a review copy of this book. I stumbled upon Meadows early in his blogging career and have enjoyed his ruminations over the years. I was looking forward to his book but did wonder if it would be a rehashing of the ideas and essays in the blog. I need not have worried. While some of the ideas were developed over time through the blog, this book is a wholly original, cohesive theory. The theory of optionality draws upon insights from behavioral economics, game theory, and philosophy, among others, and weaves these snippets into a smart, accessible theory. Meadows’ optionality is both intellectually interesting and applicable to real life situations.
I cannot speak to the rigor of his interpretation of philosophy but I do have some expertise in the economics field and have read the original journal articles underlying much of his economic interpretation. His insights are solid and true to the original research. He but looks at research to inform his thinking and seems to resist the temptation to cherry pick research that supports his hunches. I did not agree with everything that Meadows said but that is because I was able to intellectually engage with the ideas – it is difficult to disagree with pablum and Meadows does not fall into that trap. His ideas are sensible but he is specific enough and his theory is original enough that the reader will find herself reacting to them rather than mindlessly reading.
Thanks to shipping issues related to COVID, my review copy was a pdf and the fact that I was able to absorb the ideas in this format and enjoy the book speaks volumes about the quality of the writing. I generally flounder around in text on a screen but this book is so clear and well organized that I was able to not only follow the arguments but absorb them as well. I will get the paper version as well since this is a book that warrants writing in the margins – it is that good.
I cannot speak to the rigor of his interpretation of philosophy but I do have some expertise in the economics field and have read the original journal articles underlying much of his economic interpretation. His insights are solid and true to the original research. He but looks at research to inform his thinking and seems to resist the temptation to cherry pick research that supports his hunches. I did not agree with everything that Meadows said but that is because I was able to intellectually engage with the ideas – it is difficult to disagree with pablum and Meadows does not fall into that trap. His ideas are sensible but he is specific enough and his theory is original enough that the reader will find herself reacting to them rather than mindlessly reading.
Thanks to shipping issues related to COVID, my review copy was a pdf and the fact that I was able to absorb the ideas in this format and enjoy the book speaks volumes about the quality of the writing. I generally flounder around in text on a screen but this book is so clear and well organized that I was able to not only follow the arguments but absorb them as well. I will get the paper version as well since this is a book that warrants writing in the margins – it is that good.
November 15, 2020
Optionality stands above the rest of other offerings in the self-improvement, personal finance, life-style hacking type genres, in a very positive way.
I’ve long been a fan of Richard’s work, from his business articles, budget buster and his blog articles you can always expect a well-reasoned and well-researched article, that may at time challenge your opinions/views, but delivered with plenty of personal experience, humour and tact that you always read through to the end and more than once I’ve had a personal blind spot highlighted.
So, it was with some trepidation that I started reading my advance e-copy. Would the book live up to expectations? Would it repeat previous material? Would the references to Futurama etc be toned down for the reading public? If you are already a fan, you need not worry; if this is your first encounter with Richard’s work, get started.
The book discusses ways to increase your capital in four areas: financial, social, knowledge, and health. I would consider myself reasonably well read in these areas and themes; but was still blown away by the number of insights, tips and resources within.
I read the e-version of the book, which I read on my kindle. I think the best way to judge a book is not by its cover, but by the question – will you buy it? The answer in this case is: Heck yes! 2 actually, one for me and at least one for a gift. This is a book that you will come back to, underline passages, dog ear the corners, google the references – it is a resource that you will come back to time and again.
I’ve long been a fan of Richard’s work, from his business articles, budget buster and his blog articles you can always expect a well-reasoned and well-researched article, that may at time challenge your opinions/views, but delivered with plenty of personal experience, humour and tact that you always read through to the end and more than once I’ve had a personal blind spot highlighted.
So, it was with some trepidation that I started reading my advance e-copy. Would the book live up to expectations? Would it repeat previous material? Would the references to Futurama etc be toned down for the reading public? If you are already a fan, you need not worry; if this is your first encounter with Richard’s work, get started.
The book discusses ways to increase your capital in four areas: financial, social, knowledge, and health. I would consider myself reasonably well read in these areas and themes; but was still blown away by the number of insights, tips and resources within.
I read the e-version of the book, which I read on my kindle. I think the best way to judge a book is not by its cover, but by the question – will you buy it? The answer in this case is: Heck yes! 2 actually, one for me and at least one for a gift. This is a book that you will come back to, underline passages, dog ear the corners, google the references – it is a resource that you will come back to time and again.
November 11, 2020
Optionality is different from most other books in the self-improvement genre, in a very refreshing way. What really stood out to me is the author’s rational, analytical, and well-researched approach to life decisions both big and small.
The book discusses ways to increase your financial, social, knowledge, and health capital, showing that you gain optionality by making strategic choices in each of these domains. In general, the strategy is (1) to reduce your risk of ruin by building resilience in each domain and (2) to foster growth by seeking out asymmetrical opportunities: those that offer a large and unbounded potential upside for a small and capped potential downside. The sheer number of insights and practical tips that this book combines is astounding (and especially if you haven’t already encountered them on the author’s blog over the years, you’re in for a treat).
The writing style is very accessible, informative, and even humorous at times. While I sometimes would have liked to see a bit more evidence to back up certain claims, particularly about health, the author does acknowledge that many of the ideas were developed from his personal experience (so you needn’t just copy all of the decisions he made). The cases where he pushed back a bit against certain lifestyle movements that have recently become very popular, particularly the minimalism and FIRE movements, were interesting and bolstered his credibility in my view.
Overall, this was a very thought-provoking read, brimming with ideas for how to set yourself up for a successful life even when faced with all the uncertainties of the modern world.
The book discusses ways to increase your financial, social, knowledge, and health capital, showing that you gain optionality by making strategic choices in each of these domains. In general, the strategy is (1) to reduce your risk of ruin by building resilience in each domain and (2) to foster growth by seeking out asymmetrical opportunities: those that offer a large and unbounded potential upside for a small and capped potential downside. The sheer number of insights and practical tips that this book combines is astounding (and especially if you haven’t already encountered them on the author’s blog over the years, you’re in for a treat).
The writing style is very accessible, informative, and even humorous at times. While I sometimes would have liked to see a bit more evidence to back up certain claims, particularly about health, the author does acknowledge that many of the ideas were developed from his personal experience (so you needn’t just copy all of the decisions he made). The cases where he pushed back a bit against certain lifestyle movements that have recently become very popular, particularly the minimalism and FIRE movements, were interesting and bolstered his credibility in my view.
Overall, this was a very thought-provoking read, brimming with ideas for how to set yourself up for a successful life even when faced with all the uncertainties of the modern world.
December 3, 2020
Not a lot of original ideas in this book. Meadows constantly makes references to ideas of Nassim Taleb, to the point where the reader feels like he should just read Taleb. Notably, if you have read Taleb's "Black Swan," "Antifragile" or "Skin in the Game," you will already be familiar with all the points made in this book.
November 19, 2020
I should likely start by saying I’ve generally stopped reading most things about personal finance years ago. After writing about personal finance myself for over a decade and reading hundreds of books and thousands of blog posts on the topic. I find most of them boring to me now. I can only read about sequence of returns risk so many ways until I want to vomit. Except once in a while I find a new blog that I enjoy reading because it actually makes me consider things from a new point of view. This was the case when I came across Richard Meadows’ blog Deep Dish a while back. And then he wrote a book called Optionality and I found myself laughing and honestly looking forward to reading each new chapter. That is how utter great this book is.
Full review here: http://www.canadian-dream-free-at-45....
Full review here: http://www.canadian-dream-free-at-45....
November 15, 2020
You are going to want to have a notepad ready when you read this book, so you can capture all your ideas on how to apply it to your life. It's a fast-paced read, which felt at the start a little overwhelming but the author comes back to the key points at pleasing intervals. The philosophy of the book, finding and creating good options in your life leads to a good life, is a new and interesting take but backed by research. Unlike a lot of other life philosophy books there is detailed, practical information about how to find good options and I highly recommend for all humans.
June 10, 2022
Just excellent.
Full of practical advice that the author actually lives by.
Totally transparent, sincere, and open to inspection.
I wish I could gift this to my 20 year old self.
As such, I'm gifting a copy to my 22 year old brother.
Full of practical advice that the author actually lives by.
Totally transparent, sincere, and open to inspection.
I wish I could gift this to my 20 year old self.
As such, I'm gifting a copy to my 22 year old brother.
December 22, 2020
Optionality was an impulse buy, which normally I would avoid and the author himself would recommend against in the name of frugality, but here we are. I did not know the author or his blog when I bought the book, but the concept sounded interesting and I'm approaching some life-changing decisions soon so what the hell, I bought it. And I loved the first 50 or so pages! This guy can write - he's personable, relatable, and occasionally funny.
However, this is a Frankenstein book, stitched together from seemingly endless quotes and ideas from other authors. Did I find a few interesting concepts that I should apply to my own life? Yes, a scant few (e.g., I need to do more resistance/strength training, which I knew but a nudge is appreciated). Part of my reaction to this book may be my age/life experience versus the author's. I did not know when I bought the book that he is in his twenties. I am probably twice his age, so many/most of his ideas strike me as common sense, or truths I learned decades ago, especially the chapters on personal financial management (e.g., be frugal, don't buy a bunch of stuff just to keep up with the Kardashians because you can't). And since I mentioned my age, let me add that the sections on life choices and financial management in your later years struck me as really off base.
Ultimately, Optionality didn't really offer me new information or insight, but it might for someone in their twenties tackling big choices and trying to find their path in life.
However, this is a Frankenstein book, stitched together from seemingly endless quotes and ideas from other authors. Did I find a few interesting concepts that I should apply to my own life? Yes, a scant few (e.g., I need to do more resistance/strength training, which I knew but a nudge is appreciated). Part of my reaction to this book may be my age/life experience versus the author's. I did not know when I bought the book that he is in his twenties. I am probably twice his age, so many/most of his ideas strike me as common sense, or truths I learned decades ago, especially the chapters on personal financial management (e.g., be frugal, don't buy a bunch of stuff just to keep up with the Kardashians because you can't). And since I mentioned my age, let me add that the sections on life choices and financial management in your later years struck me as really off base.
Ultimately, Optionality didn't really offer me new information or insight, but it might for someone in their twenties tackling big choices and trying to find their path in life.
November 17, 2020
A life without options is soul destroying. But how do you get real options, not just the faux options a marketing team puts in front of you? Well for my money I’d say start by reading this book!
Richard has done the heavy lifting for us all over the last 4 or 5 years as he’s refined his take on the fundamentals of life; knowledge, social, health and finance through his voracious appetite for knowledge by reading, interviewing, musing and living. He has distilled it all down into this great book which can help anyone cut through the populist nonsense and start to take control of everything that matters.
You may be challenged, dear me can it be true that my diligent goal setting has actually blinded me to golden opportunities or my mindful buying in the mid-range confident I wasn’t being cheap and foolish and also not being pretentious and wasteful showed as much insight as a boiled cabbage could. Early lessons too include that flirtation with FIRE is fine but don’t drink all the cool-aid or else you won’t get the joy of being a true "frugalitas".
Having read this book I’m certain that like me you’ll come away with a bagful of life gems, and for extra measure had a good giggle too. After all you can never regret taking a hold of your Possibility Tree (all the potential actions available to you at any given moment and their branching possibilities) and in the words of the mighty Meadows, “rather than wasting hours delicately snipping away at the possibility tree, go at it with all the enthusiasm of Edward Scissorhands on a PCP-fuelled rampage.
Richard has done the heavy lifting for us all over the last 4 or 5 years as he’s refined his take on the fundamentals of life; knowledge, social, health and finance through his voracious appetite for knowledge by reading, interviewing, musing and living. He has distilled it all down into this great book which can help anyone cut through the populist nonsense and start to take control of everything that matters.
You may be challenged, dear me can it be true that my diligent goal setting has actually blinded me to golden opportunities or my mindful buying in the mid-range confident I wasn’t being cheap and foolish and also not being pretentious and wasteful showed as much insight as a boiled cabbage could. Early lessons too include that flirtation with FIRE is fine but don’t drink all the cool-aid or else you won’t get the joy of being a true "frugalitas".
Having read this book I’m certain that like me you’ll come away with a bagful of life gems, and for extra measure had a good giggle too. After all you can never regret taking a hold of your Possibility Tree (all the potential actions available to you at any given moment and their branching possibilities) and in the words of the mighty Meadows, “rather than wasting hours delicately snipping away at the possibility tree, go at it with all the enthusiasm of Edward Scissorhands on a PCP-fuelled rampage.
November 17, 2020
One of my all-time favourite books is Antifragile by Taleb, and in searching for practical applications of the barbell strategy that Taleb outlines I found Rich's website. His articles were excellent, and I immediately loved his writing style and the way he could break down theoretical concepts into clear and practical advice.
When I found his book, Optionality, I was extremely excited, and it did not disappoint. The stories and explanations are top-notch, and I would describe the book as a blend of Antifragile and Atomic Habits (my two favourite books by the way). Above all, it's practical. and useful. And the stories let the advice and concepts sink in.
It's not a repetitive book, but full of dense, unique insights and I've not sure I've used the Kindle Highlight feature more often! It's a rich tapestry of concepts, stories, examples and ways of thinking and living better - with optionality. Rich has a talent for bringing together diverse strands into a coherent whole. A joy to read.
Overall, I love this book, I love the topics addressed and love the writing style. This book stands jointly equal with Antifragile and Atomic Habits in my leaderboard of books that have changed my life and the way I think.
When I found his book, Optionality, I was extremely excited, and it did not disappoint. The stories and explanations are top-notch, and I would describe the book as a blend of Antifragile and Atomic Habits (my two favourite books by the way). Above all, it's practical. and useful. And the stories let the advice and concepts sink in.
It's not a repetitive book, but full of dense, unique insights and I've not sure I've used the Kindle Highlight feature more often! It's a rich tapestry of concepts, stories, examples and ways of thinking and living better - with optionality. Rich has a talent for bringing together diverse strands into a coherent whole. A joy to read.
Overall, I love this book, I love the topics addressed and love the writing style. This book stands jointly equal with Antifragile and Atomic Habits in my leaderboard of books that have changed my life and the way I think.
November 18, 2020
In a world full of self-help and get rich quick books it's hard to decide on which ones to read never mind which to believe or even follow. Let me save you the hassle, grab this one!
Richard has a no B#££$#|# approach that entertains and enlightens in equal measure, he has clearly pulled info from many sources to put together a concise and easy to follow guide to Optionality. (I know I'll never get through the list of books he read to inform and confirm the theories and advice in the book so thanks Rich for saving me that time!)
He keeps it real at all points, he dispels get rich quick myths while giving solid advice on opening yourself up to the option to access real financial opportunities.
While the financial side is the obvious aspect of life that you'd expect this book to cover the lessons apply across many if not all aspects of our lives.
Rather than merely pursuing financial security and freedom he instead focuses on the greater goal of flourishing in an uncertain world. I shall be passing this to my teenage children to read to set them up for a future none of us can predict. (But first I'll read it again)
Richard has a no B#££$#|# approach that entertains and enlightens in equal measure, he has clearly pulled info from many sources to put together a concise and easy to follow guide to Optionality. (I know I'll never get through the list of books he read to inform and confirm the theories and advice in the book so thanks Rich for saving me that time!)
He keeps it real at all points, he dispels get rich quick myths while giving solid advice on opening yourself up to the option to access real financial opportunities.
While the financial side is the obvious aspect of life that you'd expect this book to cover the lessons apply across many if not all aspects of our lives.
Rather than merely pursuing financial security and freedom he instead focuses on the greater goal of flourishing in an uncertain world. I shall be passing this to my teenage children to read to set them up for a future none of us can predict. (But first I'll read it again)
November 17, 2020
Optionality is a book that will change your life, if you let it. It breaks down paradigms of wealth, health, success and presents new ways of thinking and living designed to maximise the upside and cap the downside. I've read a lot of books that fall into this genre, but Optionality has left a greater impact on me than most. Meadows has a way of slicing through the BS and arriving at simple, yet life-altering truths. The book is light on fluff, heavy on logic and rationality. It draws from his own experiences as well as some of the greatest minds to have broached these topics (the influence of Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Tyler Cowen, for instance, is clear).
Optionality is also funny. There is a lightness and honesty to Meadows' writing that makes the book a pleasure to read. You won't find any flexing or pretentiousness here. It might have something to do with him being from New Zealand.
At its core, this book is a blueprint for living intentionally and making the most out of the limited time we have in our skin suits - whatever that means to you. I will not be surprised if this book is the next 'Atomic Habits' or 'Ego is the Enemy'. It's definitely of that calibre. I'm genuinely astounded that this is his debut book.
Optionality is also funny. There is a lightness and honesty to Meadows' writing that makes the book a pleasure to read. You won't find any flexing or pretentiousness here. It might have something to do with him being from New Zealand.
At its core, this book is a blueprint for living intentionally and making the most out of the limited time we have in our skin suits - whatever that means to you. I will not be surprised if this book is the next 'Atomic Habits' or 'Ego is the Enemy'. It's definitely of that calibre. I'm genuinely astounded that this is his debut book.
November 17, 2020
The topic of optionality is fascinating, I truly think that this is the only way to advance in our increasingly uncertain and unpredictable world, so the content is 10/10.
The latter part of the review is concerned with the experience of reading this book. The authors skill in blog-esque writing really shines throug on all the pages, yielding both the upside and the downside of it aswell.
The upside is really fun and engaging chapters, filled with personality, and it was a tremendous joy to read, he could pass on really complex topics and concepts in a breeze, hence the five-star review.
The downside, on the other hand, is that it gets DENSE sometimes. Dense in the sense that your brain hardly gets any time to catch its breath, it is bombarded with new pieces of information, I would say beacause the author is used to writing individual articles, rather than a lenghty text.
But this downside was masterfully managed, when he explained in the beginning how this is a handbook, and how you should jump around chapters, and only read the relevant parts, and another time you might find a different part useful.
The latter part of the review is concerned with the experience of reading this book. The authors skill in blog-esque writing really shines throug on all the pages, yielding both the upside and the downside of it aswell.
The upside is really fun and engaging chapters, filled with personality, and it was a tremendous joy to read, he could pass on really complex topics and concepts in a breeze, hence the five-star review.
The downside, on the other hand, is that it gets DENSE sometimes. Dense in the sense that your brain hardly gets any time to catch its breath, it is bombarded with new pieces of information, I would say beacause the author is used to writing individual articles, rather than a lenghty text.
But this downside was masterfully managed, when he explained in the beginning how this is a handbook, and how you should jump around chapters, and only read the relevant parts, and another time you might find a different part useful.
November 18, 2020
If you're interested in making the most of opportunities in your life, this is definitely the book for you.
'Optionality' has an ambitious scope - covering topics such as money management, health, and philosophy, to name just a few - but it's handled with such a deft hand that the writing is a breeze to read. The advice is very actionable and uses lots of concrete examples to help you put the ideas into action. I came away from this book fired up to make positive changes in my life, and (unusually for me!) knowing exactly how to put the ideas into practice.
This is a great book, with ideas and insights jam-packed into every paragraph. It's never dull, with a funny and engaging style that feels like you're getting great life advice from your mate at the pub.
I found myself wanting to take notes and highlight ideas on every page, so I've just ordered a couple of physical copies to scribble on. Can't wait to re-read it, and to share copies with my friends so we can discuss - my mind has been buzzing since the moment I picked it up!
'Optionality' has an ambitious scope - covering topics such as money management, health, and philosophy, to name just a few - but it's handled with such a deft hand that the writing is a breeze to read. The advice is very actionable and uses lots of concrete examples to help you put the ideas into action. I came away from this book fired up to make positive changes in my life, and (unusually for me!) knowing exactly how to put the ideas into practice.
This is a great book, with ideas and insights jam-packed into every paragraph. It's never dull, with a funny and engaging style that feels like you're getting great life advice from your mate at the pub.
I found myself wanting to take notes and highlight ideas on every page, so I've just ordered a couple of physical copies to scribble on. Can't wait to re-read it, and to share copies with my friends so we can discuss - my mind has been buzzing since the moment I picked it up!
November 18, 2020
A great book to get you thinking about options.
I really enjoyed reading this book and found it hard to put it down. It goes through a lot of different ways to think about your life and structure it to provide greater optionality in your life. Rich uses a lot of great phrases and stories to get the point across, as well as a few new Rich “made up” words. He has a knack with writing that can turn the most boring concepts into something entertaining. For example, no one wants to read another word on compound interest – yet here it is in a good format to read and learn from.
It’s a refreshing book that will make you question your life setup to make changes to make it have more options available to you!
I really enjoyed reading this book and found it hard to put it down. It goes through a lot of different ways to think about your life and structure it to provide greater optionality in your life. Rich uses a lot of great phrases and stories to get the point across, as well as a few new Rich “made up” words. He has a knack with writing that can turn the most boring concepts into something entertaining. For example, no one wants to read another word on compound interest – yet here it is in a good format to read and learn from.
It’s a refreshing book that will make you question your life setup to make changes to make it have more options available to you!
November 17, 2020
Richard Meadows puts forth Optionality as a framework for living the good life. Living in an ever changing world, as an ever changing person, planning a life for yourself is not viable for most people. The best you can do is build capital in finance, health, social and knowledge to open options for your future self.
He sets out how to do this, giving examples and anecdotes. It's an enjoyable read, and never becomes stiff or self righteous. It's one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.
If you're on the fence about buying this book, I recommend checking out his blog(The Deep Dish), because if you enjoy that, you''l love this book
He sets out how to do this, giving examples and anecdotes. It's an enjoyable read, and never becomes stiff or self righteous. It's one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.
If you're on the fence about buying this book, I recommend checking out his blog(The Deep Dish), because if you enjoy that, you''l love this book
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