The Art of Thinking Clearly

 

By Rolf Dobelli

 

A short review because I didn’t really think much of this book, giving it only 1 out of 5.

 

I found it to be very pessimistic. I don’t think you need to have such a pessimistic and negative view of everything to think about it from a clear point of view. I skipped over most of the last 3rd of the book (and I should add that about 50 pages from the books middle was missing – being replaced by the first 50 pages of the books start… so they can’t even get the book printed properly!).

 

It has a nice cover and the book comes across as being a very important book to read. But it’s sloppily written and frustrating, constantly using examples and stories that are wrong and have nothing to do with the title. It is literally just a list, with extended descriptions, of the biases.

 

Some good quotes though:

• Rational decision-making requires you to forget about the costs incurred to date. No matter how much you have already invested, only your assessment of the future costs and benefits counts

• We deal mostly in assumptions, and the more nebulous these are, the stronger the confirmation bias. Whether you go through life believing that people are inherently good or people are inherently bad, you will find daily proof to support your case

• Be aware that you tend to overestimate your knowledge

• We are more sensitive to negative than to positive things. On the street, scary faces stand out more than smiling ones. We remember bad behaviour longer than good – except, of course, when it comes to ourselves

• How do you curb envy? First, stop comparing yourself to others. Second, find your “circle of competence” and fill it on your own. Create a niche where you are the best. It doesn’t matter how small your area of mastery is. The main thing is that you are king of the castle

• It’s OK to be envious – but only of the person you aspire to become