Fortune rates it as the “smartest book of all time”. I decided to read this book coz of the immense praise that I had received regarding the author for his book “Black Swan” ( a book lying at my house and I still haven’t touched it). Mr. Taleb had given the review of the “Halo Effect”, the book which was my read before “Fooled by Randomness”. The title cover itself is intriguing and if all the factors are taken together then I was prompted to pick it up from my library and go through the copy.
The first thing that strikes you while you read this book is the lucid language of the book. The author, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, at no point tries to woo the reader with the use of jargons or any other complicated stuff. This is despite the fact that the author is a reputed hedge fund manager ( a qualification which generally entails a social acceptance towards bombardment of high “fundoo” words so as to gain even more higher respect, afterall confusion and respect are nowadays synonymous). The two points reiterated in the book are:
- Emphasis given to mathematics a philosophical tool and not just a means of calculation (as the field has been reduced today).
- The ability to avoid taking science (anything which tends to tease the neocortex and gains social recognition as having the aura of rationality and intellect) rather very seriously.
The clarity that exudes throughout the book is even facilitated by the use of humorous anecdotes and funny language. It is a must read book for those who take the primetime journalists seriously, esp. those trying to make give a reason for the stock market upheavals. The book enhances and enforces the need to take things in the right perspective and is must read for aspiring MBAs or those who are in their first jobs.
The basic tenet that the author devotes his time and energy is towards highlighting the importance of luck, which is nothing but the ability of random events to occur and cause profound effects. These events are the so-called “black swans”. The author takes a more philosophical tone towards the subject and encourages people to take life and business in the same respect.
It was a real pleasure to go through this book. It has made me all the more excited to go through “Black Swan:.
1 comment:
Black Swan I guess should be read as soon as you can :-)
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