When faced with complex problems, we have all become accustomed to looking to our leaders to set out a plan of action, to blaze a path to success. In this groundbreaking work, Tim Harford shows us a new and inspiring approach to solving the most pressing problems in our lives. Harford argues that today’s challenges simply cannot be tackled with ready-made solutions and expert opinions; the world has become far too unpredictable and profoundly complex. Instead, we must adapt. Deftly weaving together psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, physics, and economics, along with compelling stories of hard-won lessons learned in the field, Harford makes a passionate case for the importance of adaptive trial-and-error in tackling issues such as climate change, poverty, and the financial crisis.
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"This was a great book in calling out the fact that our entire lives are shaped around the idea of fail, learn, and adapt. This is the foundation for life experience and growth. How interesting in contrast how organizations and cultures have the exact opposite need. Fail and you are reprimanded or pushed out. One of my favorite quotes from the book: "Having a risk adverse culture kills engagement. Negative retribution to failure says to employees, 'Work on the safest problem'." And this is not how true innovation happens." — Eric (5 out of 5 stars)
"This was a great book in calling out the fact that our entire lives are shaped around the idea of fail, learn, and adapt. This is the foundation for life experience and growth. How interesting in contrast how organizations and cultures have the exact opposite need. Fail and you are reprimanded or pushed out. One of my favorite quotes from the book: "Having a risk adverse culture kills engagement. Negative retribution to failure says to employees, 'Work on the safest problem'." And this is not how true innovation happens."
" After reading the first 3-4 chapters found the entire thing too repetitive and returned the book to the library. "
" Takes a while to get to the final point, Harford doesn't fully flesh it out until the last chapter. The build up itself though, is stimulating and worth the read, even without the final point. Thoroughly enjoyed the many stories and incites Harford brings to his topic. There's a lot to learn here folks, and I for one, find his views on failure, adaptation and achievement heartening. Failure is a step in the road, not the final note. "
" Excellent: gets to the essence of the issues in an entertaining way "
" Decent premise; bad delivery. "
" A solid three in that it clearly an ode to what I already believe to be true. "
" While the premise is not new, the author's selection of business, military and life stories to back his thinking make it a very nice read. "
" Also dovetails with themes from the book Obliquity. Both are excellent treatises on innovation and business, solutions, progress without bureaucratic hogwash. "
" Loved the book and its stories above surprising innovation and success borne of failure. Did get kind of long a repetitive and I'd thought I'd the point 2/3 through so I put it down. "
" Great, unusual thinking from a British economist. "
" Brilliant. A must read. "
" Could have been better written - Gladwell or Kawasaki are perhaps better writers in the same mold. Stagnates and seems directionless in the middle but redeems itself in the end. On the whole - not bad at all. "
" I found the first 2 and last 2 chapters of this book to be the most interesting. The middle was a bit tedious with example after example but worth reading for the last two chapters. "
" While this book is written primarily for businesses to think about their decision making, his examples come from every aspect of life. The ideas he suggests can help in every part of life. It is somewhat like a Malcolm Gladwell book and keeps your interest. "
" Harford's exploration of failure, and how we as individuals, organizations, nations, and life act, fail, learn, adapt, and go on to succeed.Applicable to most anyone, and fascinating... "
Tim Harford is the author of The Undercover Economist, The Logic of Life, and Adapt. He writes two columns for the Financial Times, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, Esquire, Parade, New York, and Wired. He lives with his family in Oxford.
Jonathan Keeble, winner of four AudioFile Earphones Awards, combines his audio work with a busy theater and television career. He has been featured in over six hundred radio plays for the BBC, appearing in everything from Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes to Doctor Who and The Archers, in which he played the evil Owen. As an Earphones Award–winning narrator, he is in high demand for his voice work. He has recorded over two hundred audiobooks.
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