Read more on Amazon Read my other book notes Rating: Recommended Reading Language: English Summary A book on the history and spirit of the art of Japanese tea-making. Strong emphasis on its Taoist and Zen Buddhist roots. Great introduction for a Westerner to these Asian philosophies. Key Takeaways What I got out of it Like […]
The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo Read More »
Read more on Amazon Read my other book notes Rating: Recommended Reading Language: English Summary Zen in the Art of Archery is an enjoyable first-hand account of a Westerner (German) learning about Zen Buddhism through Japanese archery over multiple years. Key Takeaways What I got out of it Zen in the Art of Archery was
Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel Read More »
Read more on Amazon Read my other book notes Rating: Optional Books Language: English Summary Letters and essays from a 17th-century Japanese Zen Buddhist monk. Easy to read, difficult to grasp what Soho was aiming for – as is the case with most Zen texts. I recommend Zen in the Art of Archery and Zen
The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Soho and William Scott Wilson Read More »
Thought experiments are “devices of the imagination used to investigate the nature of things.” Anytime you say “imagine” or “what if” and let your mind explore an idea you’re conducting a thought experiment. It’s a classic tool used by great thinkers across many disciplines, such as philosophy and physics, to examine what can be known.
Thought Experiment: How Tesla Solved Difficult Problems Read More »
Scarcity refers to a gap between limited resources and theoretically limitless wants. It involves making a tradeoff, sacrificing or giving something up to obtain more of the desired resource. Scarcity applies to physical goods as well as abstract ideas such as time and energy. We place a higher value on scarce objects and a lower
Scarcity: How It Affects Decision Making Read More »
Read more on Amazon Read my other book notes Rating: Optional Book Language: English Summary Musashi’s book on developing expertise and living a focused life. It had a stronger impact at age 24 than it did when I reread it at 31. Key Takeaways What I got out of it I remember the Book of
The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi and Thomas Cleary Read More »
Both nature and economic life are fundamentally a competition for limited resources. Biologically we compete for usable energy, economically we compete for customer wealth, time and attention. The forces that make market economics work are supply and demand. What is The Law of Demand The law of demand states that there is an inverse relationship
Supply and Demand: A Mental Model To Understand The Economy Read More »
“Nothing is easier than self-deceit. What a man wishes, he also believes.” – Demosthenes As the ancient Greeks found 2500 years ago, have a tendency to cherry-pick information that confirms our existing beliefs or ideas. We call this tendency confirmation bias. It’s a deeply ingrained mental habit that’s energy-conserving and comfortable. Imagine our ancestors hunting.
Confirmation Bias and the Power of Disconfirming Evidence Read More »
Read more on Amazon Read my other book notes Rating: Recommended Reading Language: English Summary An ancient Chinese book with aphorisms on how to conduct yourself, lead/govern others and live a good life. Has some traces of Stoicism, minus the spirituality. Don’t read it hoping for enlightenment, it’s not that kind of book. Key Takeaways
The Analects of Confucius by Confucius and Burton Watson Read More »
We have an instinctual desire to remain consistent with our past actions and beliefs. There’s a social benefit to it: we value consistency and conviction, even if it’s wrong, because it reduces uncertainty toward one’s future actions and beliefs. This creates trust. Yet this bias toward consistency and commitment can lead us to behave in
Commitment and Consistency Bias Read More »
Read more on Amazon Read my other book notes Rating: Recommended Reading Language: English Summary Great historical overview of Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gould and J.P. Morgan, their businesses and the times they lived in. Key Takeaways What I got out of it Summary Notes Preface Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Gould tapped into the national predilection for speed,
The Tycoons by Charles Morris Read More »
The Availability Bias (or Availability Heuristic) is a mental shortcut that affects our judgment and decisions based on how easily we can think of examples. It works on the notion “if you can think of it, it must be important.” We tend to most easily recall what is salient, important, frequent and recent. First-hand experience
How You Can Overcome The Availability Heuristic Read More »