The reviewer initially misunderstood the book's focus, thinking it was about trusting intuition versus rational thought. They found the book to be a comprehensive study of cognitive errors, particularly how intuition can lead to systematic failures. The reviewer was impressed by the experiments and examples but noted that the book lacks practical advice on mitigating these cognitive errors.
The reviewer initially thought 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' was a self-help book about trusting intuition versus rational thought, but they discovered it's a detailed study of cognitive errors. The book focuses on how intuition, or 'fast thinking,' can lead to systematic failures. The reviewer found the experiments and examples compelling, noting that our intuitive reactions are often predictable and sometimes irrational. However, they felt the book lacked practical advice on how to mitigate these cognitive errors. The reviewer also noted that the book's model of the mind doesn't fully account for experiences like boredom, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of human cognition.
Quick quotes
Nothing in life is as important as you think it is when you are thinking about it.
This book is nothing of the sort. As I finally discovered when the book was gifted to me (the ecstatic blurbs in the front pages were the first clue), this book is the summary of Daniel Kahneman’s study of cognitive errors.
This is a book about all of the reasons you should distrust your gut.