Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Peace in Society Without Policing: A Pipe Dream?

Are humans more peaceful or destructive by nature? Is peace in society possible without central overseeing authority? In his book Skin in the Game, Nassim Taleb argues that peace is a natural state of human civilization. However, many people falsely assume that the natural state of civilization is ceaseless, destructive conflict, which leads them to believe that institutions need to intervene. In this article, we’ll explain why Taleb sees peace as the dominant status of civilization and how, when left to their own devices, people tend to resolve conflict and collaborate.

The Lindy Effect: The Ultimate Test of Time

What is the Lindy effect? Why does the longer something has been around, the longer it will likely be around in the future? Named after a deli in which actors are said to have casually invented the idea, the Lindy effect states that a nonperishable thing’s longevity is roughly equal to its current age. In other words, truly effective ideas, inventions, and institutions become less likely to die as time goes on. As Nicholas Taleb puts it, if something is “Lindy,” it “ages in reverse.” In this article, we’ll explore the “Lindy effect” and show why, in the absence of

Skin in the Game: Book Overview and Key Takeaways

What is Nassim Taleb’s book Skin in the Game about? What is the central premise of Taleb’s “skin in the game” philosophy? Skin in the Game is the fifth book in Taleb’s Incerto series. The main idea of the Incerto is that the world is fundamentally unpredictable, and Skin in the Game is about the ethics of living in that uncertain world. Below is a brief overview of the key points.

How to Maintain Your Creative Momentum

Does your creative muse come and leave out of the blue? How can you maintain your creative inspiration in the long run, and ideally, for the rest of your life? Creativity is a capricious force—it can come and go at the most unexpected times. If you want to maintain your creative momentum, you must subdue this force to your control. In this article, we’ll discuss several big-picture approaches you should take to your creativity to keep your creative juices flowing.

Bias in Journalism: Why Journalists Take Sides

Do you think journalists are largely objective in their representation of news? What happens when a journalist disseminates a biased perspective? According to Nassim Taleb, bias in journalism is the result of journalists’ lack of “skin in the game.” Their salaries don’t depend on how much useful and accurate information they convey to the public—rather, they depend on how well they fulfill their employers’ expectations. In this article, we’ll describe the flaws caused by a lack of skin in the game that Taleb has identified in the news media.

Skin in the Game: Nassim Taleb’s Philosophy of Risk

What is Nassim Taleb’s “skin in the game” philosophy? What does it mean to have your skin in the game? In this book Skin in the Game, Nassim Nicholas Taleb deconstructs what we know about life and society with a new ideological framework that’s both unconventional in its insights and fundamentally human. By reinterpreting life in terms of risk and reward, Taleb demonstrates how “skin in the game” is the foundation of an honorable and fulfilling life and why shirking your fair share of risk is the root of all evil. In this article, we’ll explore Nassim Taleb’s philosophy behind

How to Stimulate Creativity: Get in Touch With Big Magic

How do you stimulate creativity? More importantly, how do you see your creative idea to fruition? In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert says that ideas come to you from the creative realm of “Big Magic.” When this happens, there are a number of responses you can give. The most common is to pass on the idea. The idea will then move on to find another host who can take it on. The other response is to say yes. When you say yes to an idea, you choose to work together and see the idea through to the end, whatever

How Fear Becomes a Negative Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

What exactly is a self-fulfilling prophecy? How do expectations influence behavior? A self-fulfilling prophecy is a psychological phenomenon whereby your (originally false) expectations manifest in your actual reality. In other words, by anticipating a certain outcome, you start behaving in ways to make it come true. For example, if you fear your partner will leave you, you could start acting in ways that push them way (even though, originally there was no basis to believe so). In this article, we’ll explore how negative expectations can turn into a negative self-fulfilling prophecy.

Skin in the Game: Book Review, Context, and Reception

Is Nassim Taleb’s Skin in the Game worth reading? How does Taleb define having your “skin in the game”? Skin in the Game is the 2018 addition to Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s bestselling Incerto, a series of philosophical nonfiction works dedicated to exploring how uncertainty defines our world. The book is a treatise on the necessity of skin in the game—the need for everyone to be held accountable for the consequences of their actions. In this Skin in the Game review, we’ll cover the book’s context, background, and critical reception by the readers.

How to Embrace Your Fear of Creativity

What is the connection between fear and creativity? How do fear and anxiety affect the creative process? According to Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Big Magic, fear is an inherent element of creativity. This is because fear’s main purpose is to protect us in situations of uncertainty, and, unfortunately, the creative process is full of uncertainty. Here is how you can embrace your fear of creativity and create nonetheless.