RajeshGoli.com :: Reason - Any Suggestions?

I had mostly been reading only course material for quite some time now. This quarter was a little light on work load in terms of reading materials. Hence, I had some time to read something else for a change. Here is a short review of the books I read.

Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell

Amazing book - must read. We associate success with hard work and talent. Gladwell persuasively shows that two more ingredients are vital - opportunity and legacy. Who we are and what opportunities we are presented with matters, probably more so than talent and hard work.

Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely

Most economic theory is based on the assumption that we are rational beings who continually seek to increase our "utility" [euphemism for money ]. Dan shows that we are not only irrational, but predictably so. The book is replete with examples of his research and experiments. Predictably irrational makes for a fantastic read.

Buy.ology - Martin Lindstrom

The book is about Martin's research of brain scanning with respect to marketing and branding. The book has some very intriguing insights. However, I found it to be a little too "over the top". Not the most interesting book I've read, for sure.

The paradox of choice - Barry Schwartz

This book makes a case that more choice is not necessarily good. I've believed in this philosophy for quite some time. The book laboriously, painfully and through lot of repetitions makes this point amply clear.

Are you a shop-o-holic? Are you unhappy about how your life has turned out? Do you think about what else you could have been/done? Please do yourself a favor and read this book.

I am planning to pick up either Fooled by randomness or Black swan both of them by Nassim Nicholas Taleb next. Any other suggestions?

Created on 11th February 2009

1. Black Swan

Black Swan is very good..! I have become a fan of Taleb.

Karthik on 13th February 2009

2. ..

even i read gladwell, ariely and lindstorm recently

Akshat on 11th February 2009