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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
challenging
funny
informative
medium-paced
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! One of the more enjoyable popular science books I have read in a while.
Mlodinow reminds us how powerful the force of randomness is in our lives, and how, thanks to our own evolutionary quirks, we constantly ignore it and look for causal explanations to human successes and failures.
Knocking off 1 star due to 2 reasons:
1) I thought Mlodinow took it a bit too far by not highlighting the role of skill - all his examples started with "assuming equally skilled people in XYZ situation, lets see how their outcomes differ." In reality, skills and opportunities are not equal, so randomness does not play as extreme a role as he makes out (but still more than what we account for, clearly!)
2) Also, a large number of his business examples involved creative industries, which are quite atypical strictly from a business strategy point of view, but Mlodinow treats lessons from them as if extrapolatable to all industries. Wish he had consulted someone well-versed in business strategy who could have guided him in choosing better examples to highlight his ideas.
Mlodinow reminds us how powerful the force of randomness is in our lives, and how, thanks to our own evolutionary quirks, we constantly ignore it and look for causal explanations to human successes and failures.
Knocking off 1 star due to 2 reasons:
1) I thought Mlodinow took it a bit too far by not highlighting the role of skill - all his examples started with "assuming equally skilled people in XYZ situation, lets see how their outcomes differ." In reality, skills and opportunities are not equal, so randomness does not play as extreme a role as he makes out (but still more than what we account for, clearly!)
2) Also, a large number of his business examples involved creative industries, which are quite atypical strictly from a business strategy point of view, but Mlodinow treats lessons from them as if extrapolatable to all industries. Wish he had consulted someone well-versed in business strategy who could have guided him in choosing better examples to highlight his ideas.
One of the best books I've read on randomness, probability and cognitive biases. It was a bit like 'Fooled by Randomness', but less angst, and less random, and more history. There were some heavy parts, but they were followable. A few times he missed the opportunity to expand on a topic, I thought. I wish I'd taken notes though. What he said was correct, but there was a bit more to the story. It's not a big deal. I think I might read this again in a couple years. Next time I'll take notes.
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
A mix I've loved about maths (probability and statistics) and psychology.
Success is governed by luck more that we suspect BUT this is no reason to give up, because "one important factor of success IS under our control: the number of chances taken, the number of opportunities seized."
Success is governed by luck more that we suspect BUT this is no reason to give up, because "one important factor of success IS under our control: the number of chances taken, the number of opportunities seized."
An excellent read which I will encourage anyone with a scientific leaning to read.
A unique approach to a difficult subject!
Mathematicians or, at least, those comfortable with mathematics will probably suggest that A DRUNKARD'S WALK offers little new to them in terms of concrete mathematical analysis that they weren't already familiar with. And I'm certainly inclined to agree.
On the other hand (even as a graduate of a university program in applied math and theoretical physics), I found plenty of interest and a remarkable level of insight demonstrating how non-intuitive the correct approach to the evaluation of probability, statistics and the almost all-encompassing effects of randomness in real-life actually is. Mlodinow offers plenty of meaty examples to chew on that are drawn from a myriad of real world arenas - the stock market, sports, consumer preferences and sampling surveys, the ways in which defense and prosecution attorneys can lead judges and juries down mathematically irrelevant and entirely spurious garden paths, medical testing, misplaced blame or unearned congratulations for strings of failures or successes that are nothing more than random variation and much, much more. Mlodinow also gives his readers some fascinating insights into how the basic nature of human psychology is, in many cases, the fundamental reason for our misinterpretation of probabilities and statistics ... EVEN in those cases where we are well aware of the illogical underpinnings of our analysis.
In short, as long as a reader already well-versed in the mathematics of probability and statistics knows what to expect, A DRUNKARD'S WALK is sure to please. Potential readers that are more math-phobic can be assured that there isn't an equation in sight and their enjoyment of a fine contribution to a diverse non-fiction library is a slam dunk!
Paul Weiss
Mathematicians or, at least, those comfortable with mathematics will probably suggest that A DRUNKARD'S WALK offers little new to them in terms of concrete mathematical analysis that they weren't already familiar with. And I'm certainly inclined to agree.
On the other hand (even as a graduate of a university program in applied math and theoretical physics), I found plenty of interest and a remarkable level of insight demonstrating how non-intuitive the correct approach to the evaluation of probability, statistics and the almost all-encompassing effects of randomness in real-life actually is. Mlodinow offers plenty of meaty examples to chew on that are drawn from a myriad of real world arenas - the stock market, sports, consumer preferences and sampling surveys, the ways in which defense and prosecution attorneys can lead judges and juries down mathematically irrelevant and entirely spurious garden paths, medical testing, misplaced blame or unearned congratulations for strings of failures or successes that are nothing more than random variation and much, much more. Mlodinow also gives his readers some fascinating insights into how the basic nature of human psychology is, in many cases, the fundamental reason for our misinterpretation of probabilities and statistics ... EVEN in those cases where we are well aware of the illogical underpinnings of our analysis.
In short, as long as a reader already well-versed in the mathematics of probability and statistics knows what to expect, A DRUNKARD'S WALK is sure to please. Potential readers that are more math-phobic can be assured that there isn't an equation in sight and their enjoyment of a fine contribution to a diverse non-fiction library is a slam dunk!
Paul Weiss
challenging
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
Boring in a really comforting and interesting way
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Genocide
I keep giving books 4 stars because I LOVE BOOK! And I love this one too but also recommend it to very few of my friends because I think you’d hate it. I don’t like maths at all. Boringggg. But this was actually really interesting and is knowledge that I’m glad to have gained. Love x