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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I should say upfront that there are some very interesting ideas in this book. However, the glib and rather arrogant tone of the author made reading this book almost painful.
I must say, first, that I don’t appraise the book’s structure. It can use some organizing.
Besides from that, bravo for NNT’s proses (weird how he abbreviates himself). Clear, fun, and packed with satire and humor. Those feats over-compensate its mentioned flaw.
Lots of interesting perspectives. A great holiday read.
Besides from that, bravo for NNT’s proses (weird how he abbreviates himself). Clear, fun, and packed with satire and humor. Those feats over-compensate its mentioned flaw.
Lots of interesting perspectives. A great holiday read.
I lived through the 2008 financial crisis and I was hoping this book might incorporate more examples from that period. Instead it is more of a combination “philosophy and statistics” textbook. I think it would be interesting to read as part of a college-level philosophy class, with the opportunity to dissect and discuss with others. But to read on my own? I couldn’t get into it. Abandoned about halfway through.
I listened to the audiobook after a couple of family members said they liked it. Maybe it was the narrator of this book but the tone came across as arrogant and too loose with facts for me. I think he has one good point which could be delivered as a Ted Talk or podcast. It doesn’t need to be such a long book. I ended up not finishing it.
It would have been better to just read the wikipedia page and/or an extended review to get the important takeaways and avoid having to slog through pages of the author talking about how smart they are and dumb everyone else is. It's not a bad book for high level concepts but its anecdotes are sloppy and the overall text feels like it needed some more editing rounds.
Eye-opening--challenges perceptions of risk vs. volatility.
Interesting remarks on Fannie Mae [written 4-7 years prior to the housing bust] and the overwhelming faith pension fund management.
Interesting remarks on Fannie Mae [written 4-7 years prior to the housing bust] and the overwhelming faith pension fund management.
It is hard to figure out where to begin in providing a bit of a decent review of this book. Bottom line though, reading this book felt like hard work, which is not a good sign.
Though the premise is interesting, this book is riddled with so many fundamental flaws that it was a challenge to even finish. The lack of structure is only one of many shortcomings. The author's constant absurdly condescending tone makes for even poorer reading and the many logical inconsistencies and fallacies make it a real nightmare.
What actually started out quite okay quickly descended into 400 more pages of hate-reading. What a struggle.
Not recommended.
Though the premise is interesting, this book is riddled with so many fundamental flaws that it was a challenge to even finish. The lack of structure is only one of many shortcomings. The author's constant absurdly condescending tone makes for even poorer reading and the many logical inconsistencies and fallacies make it a real nightmare.
What actually started out quite okay quickly descended into 400 more pages of hate-reading. What a struggle.
Not recommended.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Take the star rating with a grain of salt... Basically, if it were possible to be spoiled for a nonfiction book, I've been knee deep in spoilers for the past two or three years.
This book came out in 2007, and while the argument has aged well, it has also made its rounds. I've actually had multiple people present it to me, but wanting to sound smart, only half of them referenced the book. So yeah, I've been surrounded by people who have embraced Taleb's argument, which makes me feel like I got to this party super late. Maybe you--who are reading this review--is also in this boat. I can't make that judgment call for you.
This book came out in 2007, and while the argument has aged well, it has also made its rounds. I've actually had multiple people present it to me, but wanting to sound smart, only half of them referenced the book. So yeah, I've been surrounded by people who have embraced Taleb's argument, which makes me feel like I got to this party super late. Maybe you--who are reading this review--is also in this boat. I can't make that judgment call for you.