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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Didn't feel like the thesis sank in in a satisfying way for me. That's despite him basically making the same general point over and over. But I kinda love his writing style and short tangents and potshots at academia and such
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I find this book tough to finish, because it is complex, and I need time to read some passages over and over again for it to start making sense. However, it provides me a novel and crucial insight about the world that is somewhat reassuring. This book talks about how humans naturally like to predict to gain sense of control of the going-ons of the world and provide themselves assurance, but ironically, I feel a sense of assurance after reading this book! Like, you’re right; everything in this world is out of our control and that is calming to me!
This book is such a food for the thought. In this era where predictions are everywhere and humanity becomes more reactive to negative foreshadowings, I encourage people to pick up a copy of this.
This book is such a food for the thought. In this era where predictions are everywhere and humanity becomes more reactive to negative foreshadowings, I encourage people to pick up a copy of this.
Author's writing is overly sanctimonious and full of rants
I’ve spent years hearing about this book, listening to references to “black swan events,” and wanting to read it for myself…but I’m two chapters in, and I just *can’t*.
The writing style is appalling. Constant tangents and digressions that make the reader lose sight of the overall narrative or point he’s trying to make. I rarely skim paragraphs, but found myself doing so early on.
Came on goodreads to see if it was just me or if it gets any better, and…yeah. This is a DNF for me. Go read the top-rated 1-star reviews before you read it. The concept of a Black Swan event is interesting, but not novel, and you can glean whatever insights you need from the Wikipedia page. Huge disappointment.
The writing style is appalling. Constant tangents and digressions that make the reader lose sight of the overall narrative or point he’s trying to make. I rarely skim paragraphs, but found myself doing so early on.
Came on goodreads to see if it was just me or if it gets any better, and…yeah. This is a DNF for me. Go read the top-rated 1-star reviews before you read it. The concept of a Black Swan event is interesting, but not novel, and you can glean whatever insights you need from the Wikipedia page. Huge disappointment.
Lots of interesting ideas. The whole idea of how the average may be the problem. Interesting. Rather harsh in its criticism of those who don't agree with the author. Too much I didn't understand, for better or worse.
informative
medium-paced
I need to stop reading books from authors that are this in love with themselves. Taleb takes a pretty uncontroversial (in my opinion) thesis -- that modeling fractal things or even Gaussian things with incredible downside to being wrong with a Gaussian approach is dangerous and requires caution, care, and consideration -- and turns it into to an unending diatribe about who he likes, who he dislikes, and why he's smarter and cooler than all the normies out there. I probably should have thought twice about doing this one given my distaste for folks like Dan Kaneman and the like (hot new behavioral science discoveries from war crimes U) and not given this a shot. Nice to know I am consistent in the authors I thoroughly dislike.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
The Black Swan dives into unpredictable, high-impact events that lie outside our usual expectations. Taleb challenges conventional wisdom in economics, science, and risk management, arguing that we are blind to randomness and prone to creating tidy narratives after the fact. Not only is this blindness and inappreciate use of risk models concerning, it can actually be harmful.
The writing is sharp, personal, and often provocative. Taleb’s tone can be condescending and repetitive, particularly in his disdain for academics and experts. The book is dense and meandering at times, with the most practical insights strangely placed in the PostScript. Overall, the ideas are powerful and stick with you, even if the path to them is uneven.
The writing is sharp, personal, and often provocative. Taleb’s tone can be condescending and repetitive, particularly in his disdain for academics and experts. The book is dense and meandering at times, with the most practical insights strangely placed in the PostScript. Overall, the ideas are powerful and stick with you, even if the path to them is uneven.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
medium-paced
Very repetetive, doesn't really have any original thought to it and most of the ideas are really self evident