Think Twice

Harnessing the Power of Counterintuition

By: Michael J. Mauboussin

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

How to stop yourself before you make another costly decision.... No one intentionally makes bad decisions. Yet we make them all the time. In fact, some of the worst disasters in recent history - the collapse of major investment banks, the global financial meltdown - were the result of seemingly reasonable decisions made by a lot of smart people. How does this happen?

Michael J. Mauboussin argues that the correct process for deciding well - especially when the stakes are high - conflicts with how our minds naturally work.

When faced with complex situations, our brains revert to simplified patterns that obscure better approaches to the problem. Even when we think we’re applying logic and reason, we’re subconsciously succumbing to social or situational influences. Fortunately, we can override our mind’s default systems - that is, we can counter our intuition - by learning to “think twice”.

In this compelling audiobook, Mauboussin outlines a disciplined approach to decision-making that will significantly reduce costly mistakes. Through vivid stories from business, sports, science, and everyday life, Mauboussin categorizes common mental mistakes and offers actionable advice for avoiding them, including:

• The Inside/Outside View: Take the experiences of others into account
• Tunnel Vision: Force yourself to consider alternatives that make you uncomfortable
• The Whole Is Smarter Than Its Parts: Don’t oversimplify complex problems
• Situational Power: Be highly aware of the influence others have on you
• The Expert Squeeze: Know when to trust so-called experts, and when not to

Backed by powerful research and shrewd analysis, this audio book gives you a mental toolkit for spotting dangerous decision traps - and making smarter choices in your professional and personal life.

©2009 Michael J. Mauboussin (P)2010 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

“It’s hard to think of a longer lever than better decision making, and today research in this area is advancing rapidly. In Think Twice, Mauboussin boils it all down into the key insights you really need in order to train yourself to make effective, stronger decisions.” (Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO, Amazon.com)

ok book

I had to read this book for school. it's a good book about how to make good decisions. it's nothing ground breaking but it makes you realize most people that are very smart make really bad decisions also.

Read this book

Open your mind to cognitive biases and learn the basic foundations about what affects the choices you make

Must read for any leader

Very applicable and easy to understand. I’ve already started implementing some of the decision making recommendations and seeing benefits.

interesting

make you realise how easy it is to manipulate yourself. The mind has the power.........

good book.

I found it to be a more practical consumable version of "Thinking Fast and Slow" which I also loved.