The Art of Thinking Clearly

Gave me good insights into how I think and make decisions and will help me in my personal and business life. In the first half each chapter introduces a topic that builds on earlier topics using logic, examples and anecdotes however it loses it's way some way into the second half with frequent contradictions and is full of opinions that do not appear to be researched such as news does nothing useful and wastes our time. This overlooks that news is also a recreation and it raises awareness so without out it we would, not have stopped smoking in droves, still be driving cars without seat belts, and not be aware of the cause of Type 2 diabetes or taking corrective action. That is apparent by the large selection of fruit and vegetables in our supermarkets due to this awareness that supermarkets have responded to. I predict obesity and Type 2 diabetes will start to decline in time, as has heart disease due to similar public awareness. Describing risk and uncertainty is incorrect based on accepted definitions. Another meaningless definition has been applied here. Lastly a very bleak picture is painted with no recognition of the success of modern society or that it is fundamentally improving, albeit very slowly. Another book the addresses this would be worth writing to really aid clear thinking.

The book is broken up into very small sections each covering very, very similar and nuanced concepts and topics. I got about half way through before I got tired of its format and left it. There are so many concepts that you can’t hope to absorb all of them and I would suggest it could actually confuse your thinking, not clarify it. I took some takeaways from this book, but only in that I recognised some of my behavioural traits and so can work on changing some of them if I wish to.

This has been a very useful read and I hope to make it a habit to revisit these errors when I am making important decisions.