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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
You could say that Nassim Taleb takes a somewhat scattershot approach to science, logic and reasoning, but there's one thing that he's consistent with, and that's the high opinion he holds of himself. Great thinker, polyglot, maverick, stunning example of male masculinity, he's the only person who could have distracted Narcissus from his own reflection. I'd hate to read his CV.
Which isn't to say that he doesn't hold interesting opinions. The basis of this book is clearly more about the deadening impacts of consistency, and a lack of risk-taking, rather than the rather clunky 'antifragile' neologism. Education, work, business, economics, he takes the rather consistent view that a lack of risk-taking, a lack of searching for yourself, will lead to deadened feelings and a lack of growth, personal or economic. With food and exercise, he's of the opinion that steady and sure does nothing positive, and that extremes should be sought.
He backs these opinions up with a mixture of 'technical' fact which the reader is invited to skip (and which I gladly did), and rather fanciful picking and choosing of old wives tales, ad hominem appeals, and just plain that he believes it, so it must be right.
It's a different type of pop-science book, to be sure, and with a little less of the author present, it could have been much more interesting to read. But there's only so much self-glorification I could stomach.
Which isn't to say that he doesn't hold interesting opinions. The basis of this book is clearly more about the deadening impacts of consistency, and a lack of risk-taking, rather than the rather clunky 'antifragile' neologism. Education, work, business, economics, he takes the rather consistent view that a lack of risk-taking, a lack of searching for yourself, will lead to deadened feelings and a lack of growth, personal or economic. With food and exercise, he's of the opinion that steady and sure does nothing positive, and that extremes should be sought.
He backs these opinions up with a mixture of 'technical' fact which the reader is invited to skip (and which I gladly did), and rather fanciful picking and choosing of old wives tales, ad hominem appeals, and just plain that he believes it, so it must be right.
It's a different type of pop-science book, to be sure, and with a little less of the author present, it could have been much more interesting to read. But there's only so much self-glorification I could stomach.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
I will have to re-read this one more time to understand some of the high level complexities but wow, this book is outstanding. Taleb writes about complex ideas and makes them seem simple and attainable.
challenging
informative
fast-paced
Taleb really could have used an editor on this one. Very disappointing.
ultra-orthodox philosophy of probability (everywhere) and the anti-fragility of randomness
Read this book! It's a wide ranging, comprehensive take on thinking. Read it and you'll challenge the way you see and think about things.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
My own inadequacies prevented me from fully understanding and appreciating this book.
I have read the reviews and find myself midway between those extolling the theories Taleb puts forward and others who were frustrated enough to throw the book against the wall, ripped or not.
Honest confession- Some of the concepts were too obtuse for me and frustrated, I gave up 3/4th of my passage through the book!
I have read the reviews and find myself midway between those extolling the theories Taleb puts forward and others who were frustrated enough to throw the book against the wall, ripped or not.
Honest confession- Some of the concepts were too obtuse for me and frustrated, I gave up 3/4th of my passage through the book!
The ideas are interesting, but you're better off reading the wikipedia page or other people's reviews to get a summary. The anecdotes he uses seem petty and sometimes even contradictory (ie. Plato and Aristortle philosophies were "fragile" because abstract models are fragile, but also ancient yet relevant, which means that they are more "antifragile"?). But then again, I'm trying to use logic here which is, according to Taleb, *fragile*.
I would have given it 1 star, but I added a +1 because if you stop taking the ideas seriously, Taleb provides an interesting and entertaining psychological study of a narcissist.
I would have given it 1 star, but I added a +1 because if you stop taking the ideas seriously, Taleb provides an interesting and entertaining psychological study of a narcissist.