Message 854 of 6449

Black Swan

Got my new book in the mail today.

Saw this book being discussed on CNBC, so I bought it:

"Black swan is a highly improbable event with three principal characteristics: It is unpredictable; it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear less random, and more predictable, than it was.(sound familiar?) The astonishing success of Google was a black swan; so was 9/11. For Nassim Nicholas Taleb, black swans underlie almost everything about our world, from the rise of religions to events in our own personal lives.

Why do we not acknowledge the phenomenon of black swans until after they occur? Part of the answer, according to Taleb, is that humans are hardwired to learn specifics when they should be focused on generalities. We concentrate on things we already know and time and time again fail to take into consideration what we don’t know. We are, therefore, unable to truly estimate opportunities, too vulnerable to the impulse to simplify, narrate, and categorize, and not open enough to rewarding those who can imagine the “impossible.”

Elegant, startling, and universal in its applications The Black Swan will change the way you look at the world.( I've heard that before} Taleb is a vastly entertaining writer, with wit, irreverence, and unusual stories to tell. He has a polymathic command of subjects ranging from cognitive science to business to probability theory. The Black Swan is a landmark book–itself a black swan."

If I glean any knowledge from this book, I'll let you know....
slopok's profile
You are sure reading some thought provoking stuff here lately, Slopok. Makes me feel quite the slacker! I'm drifting around in Victorian England - the 2nd of the Lady Grey series by Deanna Raybourn. I will say - she does come up with some unique characters! But not very thought provoking.....but fun........
tnbopeep's profile

7 months ago
It sounds very deep to me and I have to be in the mood to read a book that pushes me to think. The news does enough of that lately. :)
ClaudiaGarland's profile

7 months ago
I've looked at and read about this book(haven't actually read the book).
I discovered it when searching for a novel of the same name by Benjamin Black.

It does sound intriguing. Will you give us your version of Cliff Notes on it? LOL!!
Dinahlynne1's profile

7 months ago
This book is quite intriguing and those who read it like the erudition of the author.
However I wonder if the book has any substance beyond the following statement:
"Expect the unexpected. Sh*t happens"
Raouf's profile

7 months ago
Raof your quote, "Expect the unexpected. Sh*t happens." as perhaps the only substance of that book, reminded me of the movie Dune, where the substance I brought from it was that basically, everything IS sh*t in one way or another. LOL
barbincolorado's profile

7 months ago
Raouf, you are probably correct. I wondered about that when I ordered the book, but sometimes in books like this I find a nugget, an idea or another perspective on life in general. Sometimes it is a waste of money.
slopok's profile

7 months ago
Thanks for the info. I'll add Black Swan to my already enormous reading list -lol
It's raining so hard here in PDX that a good read is a great way to spend the day. Sure beats pounding the pavement looking for nonexistant jobs.
Cybercatxq's profile

7 months ago