Daniel Kahneman

A very good book, but not an easy book to read. This is in part because of the print size, which is miniscule. It has also to do, I feel, with the conclusions that the reader inevitably draws as they go through the text; namely, we are simply not as rational as we like to think we are. Still, it is a book that rewards persistence, and even aids it in one vital way (by breaking the text up into small sections). The accessibility of the writing style also helps counteract the aforementioned hindrances. Overall, well worth the read.… (mer)

This novel was a solid read but was slightly let down by its long-winded commentary on unrelated topics and the insistence that economics expects rationality from humans. Yes, I got it the first time!
It is striking how much even slightly-well-off people will argue about the irrationality of the masses and how much 'thinking' instead of 'feeling' they are - only to expose themselves as hypocrites in the next five minutes of conversation. Thinking, Fast and Slow tells us why. It is heartening to find that it's possible to improve these facets of our personality to the point where we're not dictated solely by our intuition. In good news for pedants everywhere, Kahneman concludes that it's difficult, albeit doable, to spot yourself slipping into a hasty decision - but you can ask others to check if you're doing so.
The analogy of system 1 ('gut feeling') vs system 2 (rational, but lazy) and the experiencing self vs remembering self were remarkable psychological constructions, and I could see how Kahneman got his Nobel. All in all, this is not just a read for economists and psychologists - it should be essential reading for everyone if you can get past the verbiage.… (mer)