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The Art of Decision Making
What is it that makes some of us better – or worse – than others at committing to a choice? What are the forces that hold us back, and how can we successfully overcome them? Every facet of our lives depends on the decisions we make. Yet, how often do we pause to reflect on our ability to make the best and smartest choices? The key is how we confront and refine the decision-making process.
Joseph Bikart explores the intricacies of decision making, challenging us to understand why we make the choices we do. He explores how the true power of decisions, especially the toughest among them, help us to face our fears and may in turn change how we think about ourselves. Broken into four clear parts, Bikart
Indecision, indecision – what makes us indecisive? What holds us back and why?
Where Art Thou? How and where we get stuck and the importance of relaxing one’s grip.
The Momentum of Decisiveness - Keeping our focus and proactivity.
The Deciding Mind - making our smartest choices.
Drawing from such different fields as philosophy, psychology, neurology, literature, art history and theology, we are taken on a journey from the depths of procrastination to the elation of decision making. Presenting a fresh perspective on what to do at the proverbial fork in the road, Bikart’s unique philosophy is insightful, thought-provoking, and potentially life-changing.
Joseph Bikart explores the intricacies of decision making, challenging us to understand why we make the choices we do. He explores how the true power of decisions, especially the toughest among them, help us to face our fears and may in turn change how we think about ourselves. Broken into four clear parts, Bikart
Indecision, indecision – what makes us indecisive? What holds us back and why?
Where Art Thou? How and where we get stuck and the importance of relaxing one’s grip.
The Momentum of Decisiveness - Keeping our focus and proactivity.
The Deciding Mind - making our smartest choices.
Drawing from such different fields as philosophy, psychology, neurology, literature, art history and theology, we are taken on a journey from the depths of procrastination to the elation of decision making. Presenting a fresh perspective on what to do at the proverbial fork in the road, Bikart’s unique philosophy is insightful, thought-provoking, and potentially life-changing.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2019
105 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 17, 2019
Somewhere around the 75% mark, the author makes a remark along the lines of "but I haven't presented any practical solutions yet" and I feel like we never really moved on from there.
There is A Lot in this book. Maybe too much. From deep dives in psychology to philosophy, to recruiting art history and theory, to mysticisms from several major world religions. What, you may ask, does all of that have to do with decision making? So did I honestly. And honestly, I still don't know.
The first 30% or so was a bit more lyrical than I like my nonfiction to be, but was an interesting breakdown of some common fears that interfere with our decision making, and stayed pretty well on topic. After that, I felt like the text devolved into a string of endless and too thinly stretched metaphors and random references to the categories mentioned above.
Definitely an interesting read by an author who is mind-bogglingly well read himself, but ultimately not the clear cut, practical guide I was hoping for.
There is A Lot in this book. Maybe too much. From deep dives in psychology to philosophy, to recruiting art history and theory, to mysticisms from several major world religions. What, you may ask, does all of that have to do with decision making? So did I honestly. And honestly, I still don't know.
The first 30% or so was a bit more lyrical than I like my nonfiction to be, but was an interesting breakdown of some common fears that interfere with our decision making, and stayed pretty well on topic. After that, I felt like the text devolved into a string of endless and too thinly stretched metaphors and random references to the categories mentioned above.
Definitely an interesting read by an author who is mind-bogglingly well read himself, but ultimately not the clear cut, practical guide I was hoping for.
May 14, 2022
It's difficult to review a book like this, for it's well outside the scope of books that I normally read. Saying, "this book changed my life" somehow seems cliché, but it's true, or perhaps more accurately: This book helped me to make a better life for myself. Your ability to make decisions defines everything about you. It defines who you are, who you could be, and who you shall be.
There aren't many authors who would be bold enough to quote from Carl Jung and St. Ignatius of Loyola on the same page, but Joseph does so smoothly. This may be the most theological book I've read that was supposed to be secular. I picked it up in the store and bought it without the knowledge that it had Christian elements to it, but in retrospect, that should have been obvious. A difficult decision is probably existential to us, and it requires a perspective that reflects a relatedness to the transcendent. This book delivers on that.
I read the reviews of those who seemed disappointed by this book, and it did occur to me that they expected what no book could deliver: that the author would make the decision for them that so plagued them. It's an impossible ask. Instead, what this book does is teaches people why it's so hard for us to make decisions, especially large ones. It expresses that unsaid fear that the decision we make will define who we are, both internally and to others. It warns of the pitfalls that we face when trying to make a choice, and helps us to unravel the web that we entangle ourselves in while trying to move forward.
There aren't many authors who would be bold enough to quote from Carl Jung and St. Ignatius of Loyola on the same page, but Joseph does so smoothly. This may be the most theological book I've read that was supposed to be secular. I picked it up in the store and bought it without the knowledge that it had Christian elements to it, but in retrospect, that should have been obvious. A difficult decision is probably existential to us, and it requires a perspective that reflects a relatedness to the transcendent. This book delivers on that.
I read the reviews of those who seemed disappointed by this book, and it did occur to me that they expected what no book could deliver: that the author would make the decision for them that so plagued them. It's an impossible ask. Instead, what this book does is teaches people why it's so hard for us to make decisions, especially large ones. It expresses that unsaid fear that the decision we make will define who we are, both internally and to others. It warns of the pitfalls that we face when trying to make a choice, and helps us to unravel the web that we entangle ourselves in while trying to move forward.
January 30, 2020
This book is essential reading for anyone. It is a treasure trove of wisdom, guidance, psychology, philosophy, and historical references. If you are looking to expand your mind and empower yourself and others through better decision-making then buy the book. I highly recommend it.
February 3, 2022
DNF
There was a lot of theory about decision making but honestly I got nothing in terms of a framework to help making decision. But it's all so dull, boring and not helpful
About a 3rd way through I made the decision to stop listening. I guess that's what I learned
There was a lot of theory about decision making but honestly I got nothing in terms of a framework to help making decision. But it's all so dull, boring and not helpful
About a 3rd way through I made the decision to stop listening. I guess that's what I learned
December 16, 2019
This is a really great read and I thoroughly recommend it to everyone, especially those who may need to make some big life decisions but keep putting them off! I loved this book because it really helped me to move on with my life. I now understand how I have been dithering over decisions, paralysing myself with unhelpful habits and stuck behaviours. It's easy to read, full of interesting references to art, literature and psychoanalysis without being dry or too 'academic'. It stimulates a lot of self- reflection and provides very helpful and achievable advice. You will not regret your decision to read this!
November 4, 2025
actually quite interesting look at the psychology re decision making
October 18, 2021
I did not particularly enjoy The Art of Decision Making. Its lessons were not impactful, making this a very forgettable read.
December 12, 2019
Gone Onto my “can’t finish” shelf.
The combination of art and decision making didn’t work for me ...
The combination of art and decision making didn’t work for me ...
December 22, 2020
Platitudes wrapped around pretentiousness, basically what you expect from self help books.
May 4, 2021
Interesting but a lot of complex themes crammed into one book
April 22, 2022
I felt like learned something in first part of the book, second was hard to get through - too much about philosophers ;)
October 6, 2020
A wonderful book and a real help for everyday life and business.
With this refreshingly written book, the reader gets the opportunity to skillfully master decisions and to identify and avoid possible decision traps. It offers the reader important tips, tricks and insights into various decision-making situations that can be well implemented and put in practice.
One notices the author's decades of consultancy practice: the book contains important foundations for decision-making both in professional and in everyday life, which are solidly researched and have analytical depth.
A book that I recommend.
With this refreshingly written book, the reader gets the opportunity to skillfully master decisions and to identify and avoid possible decision traps. It offers the reader important tips, tricks and insights into various decision-making situations that can be well implemented and put in practice.
One notices the author's decades of consultancy practice: the book contains important foundations for decision-making both in professional and in everyday life, which are solidly researched and have analytical depth.
A book that I recommend.
April 24, 2023
Not a good book if you want to learn how to make decisions. This is a wordy long winded philosophical book that appears to just be showing off the author’s knowledge of ancient literature. I’m sure there are nuggets of interest here but these feel like sentences you’d hear from a boring person at a dinner party which sound fancy but are ultimately useless eg Here’s how he starts a summary at the end of a chapter : “Procrastination perpetuates undecidedness which is an intrinsically unsatisfactory experience “. That’s just a fancy way of telling you something you already know. Procrastinating is bad. If you want to completely waste your time - then read this book.
August 5, 2023
Far too much surface level information and not enough on the actual science behind decision making. Book also feels very outdated, I would have guessed by the writing style and information it was written in early 2000’s, not 2019. In this day and age when there are so many well written nonfiction & accessible psychology books and self help/personal development books this sort of falls flat and isn’t engaging enough to stand out. The writer jumps from explaining the etymology of random words to explaining velocity=displacement/time. Like why do I need a GCSE Physics lesson??? Anyway the audiobook was great to fall asleep to so not all bad!
February 11, 2024
This (audio) book had so much potential. The author is obviously passionate about decision making…..and also; etymology, Greek mythology, Roman history, art, psychoanalysis, politics, theology, business, philosophy and psychology. So this book ends up sounding like some interesting information covered in verbal diarrhoea.
I thought I would look at the comments of those people who gave it five stars to see what I was missing. After looking at 12 of them I noticed that 8 of them had no comments, no friends and not read any other books. What is going on there? Maybe the decided to stop reading and went off to lie down. That is what I am going to do.
January 9, 2020
This book is a gold mine of insight and information.
It’s really unusual to find a book that doesn’t just explain but goes to the depth of our (possibly) collective unconscious to try to understand where our decisions come from. Joseph Bikart explores etymology, philosophy, spirituality and many more subjects that help us broaden our consciousness and become more aware, more awake.
You’ll need time to digest it all, I know I did, but every line is worth it. A brilliant book which takes you on a journey of self discovery. A must read.
It’s really unusual to find a book that doesn’t just explain but goes to the depth of our (possibly) collective unconscious to try to understand where our decisions come from. Joseph Bikart explores etymology, philosophy, spirituality and many more subjects that help us broaden our consciousness and become more aware, more awake.
You’ll need time to digest it all, I know I did, but every line is worth it. A brilliant book which takes you on a journey of self discovery. A must read.
October 10, 2020
In this time of information overload, decision making can be even more challenging. I dived into "The art of decision making" not knowing what to expect. What a fantastic and rich book! Of course, it provides very useful concrete advice on making decisions, which can be applied in a professional or personal situation. But with numerous references rooted in philosophy, science, psychology and history, it not only provides insightful self-help advice but also so much material to know oneself better.
April 27, 2021
Really interesting book, this one. I was listening to the audiobook version, and I think that helped me really enjoy what is best described as a journey through language, philosophy, history, art and psychology to help with self-discovery and understanding of where decision fit in the psyche, and what is involved in really embracing making decisions as part of life. A very dense, and intellectual book - it definitely took some focus to get through, but I actually really enjoyed it.
October 8, 2020
A highly readable book choke full of interesting anecdotes and useful advice on how to make decisions. The author does not attempt to tell the reader what decisions to make but rather makes the reader think through how he/she makes decisions based on his/her frame of mind and perhaps unconscious biases. I thoroughly recommend this book!
August 26, 2023
It got way too deep into philosophical topics and convoluted the flow of the book. Also, the author is enamored with etymology (the study of the origin of words), and would frequently digress to a related tangent, creating further convolution. I experienced a feeling of relief upon completing this book.
July 21, 2019
Honest and in-depth advice for reaching your full potential. This advice is presented in easy to follow language that can be broken up and applied in pieces at a time.
January 21, 2020
Thought-provoking and relevant. Widely-researched and well-paced, Bikart's book offers insights to professionals and lay readers alike.
January 22, 2020
This book is in a class of its own. Different from the usual self-help books but definitely much better. Great insights. This book keeps you thinking long after you’ve read it ....
January 29, 2020
So far gud
June 23, 2020
Insightful. It goes through the reasons why we hesitate on make the decisions and what may lead us to make certain choices over others. Fascinating insights into etymology too.
August 16, 2020
A very detailed look at the decision making progress from your thoughts and desires to actual options and action
August 25, 2020
High hopes quickly dashed. Started strong but ended in a whimper. Was hoping for some practical ideas but it turned philosophical and stoic. He over-thought this topic in a big way.
October 4, 2020
Essential to get a good decision
Essential to consider life!
Essential to consider life!
October 4, 2020
A must read: An excellent book with a psychological & philosophical insights on decision making.
October 6, 2020
A really insightful read and plenty to think about here. Definitely a cut above the average - evidence, philosophy and history all in one. The result is fabulous.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews