This is Malcolm Gladwell’s second book after “The Tipping Point.” In The Tipping Point, Gladwell writes about how sometimes things considered little a...moreThis is Malcolm Gladwell’s second book after “The Tipping Point.” In The Tipping Point, Gladwell writes about how sometimes things considered little and insignificant can unexpectedly cause big changes. Blink is about something very different; it is about how much information processing is done by our mind at a subconscious level, and how it can give us incredible answers in the blink of an eye.
Gladwell explains how we are quite unaware of the powers of our subconscious mind that works like a supercomputer behind the scenes. Every time we are faced with a challenge or a predicament, we try to use our conscious mind and think. For many day-to-day problems, we have access to enough information and intelligence in that part of our mind and we solve them. But very often, we come across situations for which we can’t find answers in our conscious mind. Yet, we often act quickly in a crisis and avert a disaster by doing precisely the appropriate thing; Gladwell attributes this to our “adaptive unconscious” that processes an enormous amout of information in a flash and guides us to the correct action.
What this book gives you is a set of analytical tools that can help you to stay on top of what is happening, how you are reacting, and how to make the...moreWhat this book gives you is a set of analytical tools that can help you to stay on top of what is happening, how you are reacting, and how to make the best of the situation using “flexible optimism.” Dr. Seligman also cautions about situations where pessimism is a better option. For example, a pilot planning an emergency landing needs to think about the worst case scenario for the safety of everyone.
The book underlines the concept of a ‘Low-Tech’ Aquarium. The author suggests ways to set up one using a moderate number of fish, reduced filtration a...moreThe book underlines the concept of a ‘Low-Tech’ Aquarium. The author suggests ways to set up one using a moderate number of fish, reduced filtration and cleaning, a large number of healthy plants and diverse microorganisms. She also highlights the attributes of such an aquarium, where the pH remains stable, maintenance required is low, and how the fish behavior is normal.
If you have toyed with the idea of setting up a natural ecosystem in your aquarium where the fish and the plants live and grow healthily, then it is worth reading this book to get some insights. There is a lot of detail in this book, and you may not be able to implement everything that is suggested, but knowing what factors are conducive and what factors are not for setting up such an aquarium will take you a long way in your pursuit.
I have been using my SLR for a few years now, and have recently graduated to a DSLR, but I still refer to this book often to refresh my memories on so...moreI have been using my SLR for a few years now, and have recently graduated to a DSLR, but I still refer to this book often to refresh my memories on some of the techniques discussed in this book. I gave a copy of this book as a farewell gift to one of my friends who had just bought a Canon S2 IS and was very interested in photography. He too found this book very educative and was soon inspired to by a Canon DSLR! Priced at around $19.99, this book is a steal for anyone who is looking for a hands-on guide to get started with serious photography.
Why did some students pay $200 for a $20 bill? Why do we hold on to stocks that are sinking until they are worth nothing? Would a rose by any other na...moreWhy did some students pay $200 for a $20 bill? Why do we hold on to stocks that are sinking until they are worth nothing? Would a rose by any other name really smell as sweet, or was Shakespeare mistaken?
If these questions intrigue you, read the book and you will enjoy every bit of it.
After listening to this book twice, I am beginning to appreciate how seemingly miniscule things often change the outcome in many situations. We tend t...moreAfter listening to this book twice, I am beginning to appreciate how seemingly miniscule things often change the outcome in many situations. We tend to focus on the “big” things and wonder why something didn’t quite turn out as expected. Why do some products make it big, while others that are equally good or even better don’t? Why are some TV shows more successful than others? Why are some able to mobilize masses and others not?
Outliers is about what it really takes to be successful and stand out. It is a close look at how many of the famous people became so successful. It is...moreOutliers is about what it really takes to be successful and stand out. It is a close look at how many of the famous people became so successful. It is about how cultures and rituals, and even, when you were born can affect your chances of success in certain fields, or even make you vulnerable for failure in some situations. This book challenges many popular beliefs about how we can be “self-made” and successful, and “rags to riches” stories that we hear about all the time. It is about why “it takes a village to raise a child.” It is about how “being at the right place at the right time” has played a significant role in many a “successful” person’s life; about hidden advantages that help some people to stand out, beyond what is commonly acknowledged - talent, hard-work, dedication, etc.
This is a book that will challenge your notion of “conventional wisdom.” Steven Levitt brings up many intriguing questions and arrives at incredible c...moreThis is a book that will challenge your notion of “conventional wisdom.” Steven Levitt brings up many intriguing questions and arrives at incredible conclusions supported by his research.
Which is more dangerous: a gun or a swimming pool? If drug dealers make so much money, why do they still live with their mothers? What really caused a drop in crime-rate in the 90s: more policing, prosperous economy, or something completely unexpected? What do Sumo wrestlers and schoolteachers have in common?
These are some of the many questions addressed in the book. The conclusions presented based on scientific studies will surprise you.
I listened to the audio version of this book, and liked it as much as I liked “Predictably Irrational.”
This is a very absorbing book about Behavioral Economics by Dan Ariely that makes you wonder if you really think rationally when making choices. It is...moreThis is a very absorbing book about Behavioral Economics by Dan Ariely that makes you wonder if you really think rationally when making choices. It is about how “decoys” are used by merchants to confuse you about your choices, and how you would typically react to them. This book gives you numerous examples that show how we can be influenced to make irrational decisions in making choices such as buying magazine subscription, a DVD player, or a house. There are many experiments that the author describes which clearly illustrate how the presence of some choices or information can act like a decoy, blur our judgment, and steer us towards making sub-optimal choices. While traditional economics is based on the premise that people make rational choices, and that the market forces are the result of those, behavioral economics concerns itself in the study of predictably irrational choices that people typically make, and what drives them to do so.
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