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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Not easy to read but it is definitely worth the time. I think that the entire content could have been reduced to at least half of the book. Many times I found my mind wandering around because the same idea has been repeated way too many times. Still, I consider it a very interesting and well written book.
This was a wonderful book. The style is almost conversational, except that Taleb pulls from such an extensive bibliography that I cannot imagine anyone being able to speak like this without notes. Some people will probably be disappointed with the small "what do I do about it?" section, but I was too caught up in the information presented and my own thoughts to really care.
I know that Taleb would hold me up as an example of all sorts of things wrong with slamming Gaussians on to everything just in order to get an answer and I would have agreed even before reading the book. I am not sure whether I agree that it does more harm than good, but I'm still pondering that issue.
I know that Taleb would hold me up as an example of all sorts of things wrong with slamming Gaussians on to everything just in order to get an answer and I would have agreed even before reading the book. I am not sure whether I agree that it does more harm than good, but I'm still pondering that issue.
Don't give up on this book!
The author comes off as an arrogant meme-hunting populist at first, but the further you advance the more you begin to understand him and at times even think like him. And while I don't really buy a lot of his ideas, it is obvious how much work and care has been put into Black Swan: it just feels informal, warm and home-made, which is a rare gift for a non-fiction book, and combined with the dynamic and layered presentation it makes for a truly exciting read. It is guaranteed to provide first-class entertainment for a couple of evenings and perhaps even make you reevaluate some of your views - just don't expect it to change your life.
The author comes off as an arrogant meme-hunting populist at first, but the further you advance the more you begin to understand him and at times even think like him. And while I don't really buy a lot of his ideas, it is obvious how much work and care has been put into Black Swan: it just feels informal, warm and home-made, which is a rare gift for a non-fiction book, and combined with the dynamic and layered presentation it makes for a truly exciting read. It is guaranteed to provide first-class entertainment for a couple of evenings and perhaps even make you reevaluate some of your views - just don't expect it to change your life.
medium-paced
I had the audio version of this book. I started listening to it as I started a long training run. I couldn't listen beyond the introduction and first chapter. The sheer arrogance of the author was off-putting and the ideas he presented were boring.
I tried, but after 100 pages I gave up. I found this an egotistical mismash. Very little organization or context and no detectable arc to the information flow. Except that the author can be counted on to mention a personal anecdote every so often. I really wonder if the authors of the positive book jacket blurbs read very far.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Informative and interesting ideas, undercut by the author's arrogant and sometimes condescending tone.
Made me rethink my business and my personal finances. How to mitigate against black swans, which are unpredictable by definition. Could have been shorter and less mathy for my taste. The arrogance was annoying.
informative
slow-paced