Fooled by Randomness - The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets

Author: Nassim Taleb Publication Date: May 2001

2022-05-01 1 min read Sincheenz

This book is another version of his bestseller “The Black Swan”, only more fatalistic. The main idea he wants to convey is that we underestimate the impact of randomness in life and attribute success or failure to skill, when it’s luck that has often played a significant role. He keeps emphasizing that skill reveals itself only over time, while luck dominates short-term results. It is true that every positive-thinking book you read or motivational speech you hear focuses too much on successful outcomes while ignoring unseen failures. Continue reading

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Never Split the Difference - Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It

Author: Chris Voss Publication Date: May 2016

2022-03-12 3 min read Sincheenz

I did the audio version of the book and was initially put off by the narrator’s dramatic voice. I decided to ignore the nasal accent and pay attention to the content, and I am happy that I persisted. This book is a treasure. I like how it combines crime scenes and professional as well as personal scenarios. The concepts of behavioral economics – loss aversion, anchoring bias, and more – are explained very well through the real-life crime and drama stories. Continue reading

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The Psychology of Money

Author: Morgan Housel Publication Date: September 2020

2022-03-12 1 min read Sincheenz

“When you see someone driving a nice car, you rarely think, “Wow, the guy driving that car is cool.” Instead, you think, “Wow, if I had that car people would think I’m cool.” Subconscious or not, this is how people think.” Morgan Housel summarizes it so well in this one sentence. Our financial decisions many time are based on our expectations of societal approval. It is important to weigh our wants with the actual need. Continue reading

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Nudge

Author: Richard H Thaler & Cass R Sunstein Publication Date: February 2009

2022-02-12 2 min read Sincheenz

The book starts off with a condescending tone, emphasizing that society consists of Humans or Econs, and it is written to help the former—the Humans. The author takes it a step further by calling Humans as the “Homers” of society, portraying them as lacking basic common sense and the ability to reason. This provocative tone may be intentional, and if you can get past it and continue reading, the book does offer a few valuable takeaways. Continue reading

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Becoming

Author: Michelle Obama Publication Date: November 2018

2022-02-01 1 min read Sincheenz

Michelle Obama, so much grace, so much wisdom, and yet so humble and down to earth. A woman with passion who shined despite her husband. I listened to the audio version of the book, and her narration was so good that at times I felt like I was in the same room with her, experiencing what she was talking about. Her closeness to her parents, her family, her husband, and her children is all remarkable. Continue reading

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