Talking Points Mcraney

You are Not so Smart – David McRaney

Introduction

* “What could be simpler than four cards and one rule? If 90 percent of people can’t figure this out, how did humans build Rome and cure polio”

* This argument is simplistic. People built Rome over centuries, not two minutes with four cards. What we have is the ability to recognize rules. The next set of four cards with a question becomes easier and then progressively so. You can't just say, you're human, go build Rome. 

* “You are also filled with beliefs that look good on paper but fall apart in practice. When those beliefs fall apart, you tend not to notice”

* “The three main subjects in this book are cognitive biases, heuristics, and logical fallacies”

* “Cognitive biases are predicable patterns of thought and behavior that lead you to draw incorrect conclusions.”

* “The maintenance of a positive self-image seems to be so important to the human mind you have evolved mental mechanisms designed to make you feel awesome about yourself.”

* Don't agree with this perspective at all and it doesn't just broadly apply. If you live your life trying to be humble or with actions vice talk then this seems like stretch conclusion 

* “Heuristics are mental shortcuts you use to solve common problems”

* “Instead of taking the long way around and deeply contemplating the best course of action or the most logical train of thought, you use heuristics to arrive at a conclusion in record time.

* Now I completely agree with this. Sometimes however in high pressure situations you want to use heuristics, you just don't have the time to logically figure out what is the best course of action. Emergency procedures in an airplane or executing a flanking maneuver or pincer based on enemy movement would be examples here 

Chapter 1 - Priming

* “Priming works best when you are on autopilot, when you aren’t trying to consciously introspect before choosing how to behave.”

* “You can’t...