By: Philip Zimbardo & John Boyd
Pages: 337
Non Fiction, Psychology
My recommendation: 8 / 10
Date read: 15th Aug'17
Brief review: It is not a time management book. It’s a book about how we perceive time and how our day to day decisions, including life defining ones, are shaped by it. How our culture, upbringing, memories and environment affects our behavior towards time. It mostly talks about psychology of time and how we can do better by changing out attitude towards time. It was a deep read in the beginning and I thought like quitting but it became quite interesting as I went on to finish the book on a lazy Saturday. This is not a book to start your reading habit. You will grasp it / enjoy it only if you are a regular reader.
By: Dan Ariely
Pages: 247
Non Fiction, Psychology
My recommendation: 8 / 10
Date read: 18th May'17
Brief review: Dan Ariely makes an excellent case to prove that we think irrationally. We think we are in control but we are not. You will relate to so many examples he gives. Why our headaches persist after taking a cheap painkiller but disappear when we take a more expensive one? Why dealing with cash makes us more honest? Why the mind gets what it expects? Why we are happy to do things, but not when paid to do them? A well researched book and interesting read. I am sure you would like this. If you do, also read 'The Art of Creative Thinking' by Rolf Dobelli.
By: Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Pages: 450
Non Fiction, Psychology
My recommendation: 9 / 10
Date read: 15th Mar'17
Brief review: Taleb claims to have read over 30 hours every week for over 40 years and it clearly shows in his quality of writing. He knows his subject well. His has mastery over ‘probabilistic theories & randomness’. In the book, Taleb discusses about what is 'antifragile'. He suggests that antifragile are things that not only gain from chaos but need it in order to survive and flourish. Apart from many things, Taleb heavily criticizes the medical world for its excessive use of medicines and surgeries citing well researched data and historical evidences that most of it doesn't work. Though I sometimes feel he is too brutal and fierce about his views but at the same it is difficult to counter his arguments and statistics. A brilliant read. I have read most of the books of Taleb and love his writings. A little heavy but a must read. Some of your firm thinking will definitely be shaken by this book.
By: Rold Dobelli
Pages: 312
Psychology, Self Help
My recommendation: 10 / 10
Date read: 5th Jan'17
Brief review: A masterpiece by Rolf Dobelli. In our every day lives we take so many decisions, small and big. A lot of such decisions are based on our cognitive biases. Though we think we are rational in our actions, the book will prove otherwise. It is much more common that we overestimate our knowledge than that we underestimate it. Is Harvard a good school? What is 'sunk cost fallacy'? Are you suffering from 'confirmation bias'? Are news anchors better than chauffeurs? What is action bias? Are you a victim of 'effort justification'? You are bound to find examples which will seem like yours. It's a small book with 99 nuggets. Don't hurry up to read this. Read slowly and sink in with every chapter. It will be worth it. A very interesting read for all.
By: Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Pages: 291
Non Fiction, Psychology
My recommendation: 10 / 10
Date read: Year 2015
Brief review: Taleb is a world authority on the probabilistic theory. He argues that randomness and luck plays a far bigger role in our lives than we think they do. This book will shatter your beliefs and convictions about the power of talent and skills. Not that they are not important but probability plays a bigger role in success. His arguments and examples are super. I truly enjoyed reading this book. Could be a little heavy and technical at times but I would say it's a good read.
