Shortform Books

Skin in the Game: Quotes by Nassim Taleb

Are you looking for Skin in the Game quotes by Nassim Taleb? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? According to intellectual provocateur Nassim Nicholas Taleb, all human systems and endeavors fail because they lack “skin in the game”: something to lose if they don’t achieve their goals. We ignore this simple failsafe far too often, but, according to Taleb, it’s the single most important contributor to human progress. Below are some of his top Skin in the Game quotes with explanations.

How the Dominant Caste Maintains Its Superiority

How does the dominant caste in a hierarchical social system maintain its power over the “low-level” citizens? What methods do they use to ensure their continuing rule? In her book Caste, Isabel Wilkerson discusses how the dominating class in a caste system establishes and maintains its control over the lower classes. They do so in four ways: 1) dehumanization at the group level, 2) laws of heritage, 3) laws of love, and 4) purity of blood. Let’s explore each in detail.

The Importance of Continuous Learning to Life Success

What is the importance of continuous learning to success in life? What is the right way to learn? The ability of voracious readers to see the world differently and to constantly develop solutions to complex problems affirms the importance of continuous learning. To succeed in life, you need to spend each day trying to be smarter than when you woke up. The best way to learn is to figure things out yourself instead of being spoon-fed information that has been modified to suit the machinations of others. Read on to discover more about the importance of continuous learning.

Nassim Taleb: Risk Defines Reality

Do you consider yourself a risk-taker? How does risk-taking enrich your life? In his book Skin in the Game, Nassim Taleb argues that risk-taking— having skin in the game—is the essence of life itself. As Taleb puts it, “real life is risk-taking.” He means this literally—by definition, a life without risk is not real life. Taleb is saying that risk defines what we consider to be reality and creates meaning by defining value. In this article, we’ll explore Taleb’s take on risk (that is, having your skin in the game, as Taleb puts it).

The Milgram Study and the Dangers of Blind Obedience

What is the focus of the Milgram study? Why is the experiment so important? The Milgram study was carried out by Yale University psychologist Stanley Milgram to explore the tendency of people to obey orders from authority figures even when they contradict their personal values. The experiment is important because it helps us understand why seemingly decent people will blindly follow flawed leaders to do bad things. Read on to learn more about the discoveries of the Milgram study.

How to Find the Right Person for the Right Job

Why is it better to hire an expert to do a difficult job for you rather than trying to do it yourself? How can you go about finding the right person for the right job? In their book Who Not How, Sullivan and Hardy say that you will always be better off hiring somebody to do a job for you than trying to figure it out yourself. Not only are you guaranteed to get a better result, but it may even end up cheaper than if you try to do it yourself and end up making the situation worse. Here’s

Instant Gratification: The Psychology of Self-Sabotage

Why are humans wired to prioritize instant gratification? How does instant gratification lead us astray from our goals? Human nature is embedded in an “immediate-return environment” inherited from early humans and the animal kingdom, where survival and goals were daily concerns. These days, however, instant gratification works against us, not for us. In this article, we’ll explore the psychology of instant gratification, why it’s so hard to resist, and how it leads us astray from achieving success.

Cognitive Inertia: The Status Quo Bias

The 25 Cognitive Biases: Cognitive Inertia

What is cognitive inertia? How do you overcome status quo bias? Cognitive inertia is the tendency to resist change and ignore new information that contradicts prevailing beliefs. You can overcome inertia by considering counterarguments to your position and forcing yourself to act in ways that contradict your stale beliefs. Read on to learn more about cognitive inertia.

Scale Your Business: 4 Strategies to Stimulate Growth

What strategies can help you successfully scale your business? What practical actions can you take to keep your organization growing? Scaling Up’s Verne Harnish offers four strategies for scaling your business. He discusses how to form a strategic thinking group, adapt to changing circumstances, evolve the structure, and move beyond the founder. Read more to learn these strategy tips to successfully scale your business.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind: Book Overview

What is The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy about? What is the key message you can take away from the book? In his book The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Joseph Murphy claims that all of your life experiences are the result of the interaction between your conscious and subconscious minds—your subconscious mind creates your life experiences according to your habitual conscious thoughts and ingrained beliefs. Murphy argues that you can use your conscious mind to imprint positive thoughts upon your subconscious mind. Below is a brief overview of the key takeaways.