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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Noise summary
A Flaw in Human Judgment
19 mins
Brief summary
Noise by Daniel Kahneman, Cass R. Sunstein, and Olivier Sibony is a groundbreaking exploration of how random noise in decision-making processes can cause errors, waste resources, and undermine performance in every industry.
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Noise
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Unrelated and unpredictable factors can have an alarming impact on human judgment.
To get a better grasp on the random and strange nature of the kind of noise we’re talking about here, let’s imagine you’re a high school senior, and you and your best friend are self-professed academic nerds. You’ve both earned straight As, nailed the SATs, and landed admissions interviews at the same Ivy League university.
You go to your interview and everything goes swimmingly. Your high marks impress the admissions officer and you cross the campus back to your car feeling great, the sun on your face and a cool breeze at your back.
Your friend has her appointment with the same admissions officer on the following day. Just like for you, her interview is a smooth ride. But when she leaves, the rain clouds that have gathered all afternoon break open into a downpour.
Weeks pass, and you each receive a letter from the admissions office. Turns out, they’ve rejected you but accepted your friend. Your mind reels. Why? What does she have that you don’t?
Here’s the first key message: Unrelated and unpredictable factors can have an alarming impact on human judgment.
According to a 2003 paper evocatively titled “Clouds Make Nerds Look Good” by behavioral scientist Uri Simonsohn, the weather might have made the difference. Simonsohn discovered that on cloudier days, college admissions officers pay more attention to grades and scores.
On sunnier days, on the other hand, admissions officers are more sensitive to nonacademic qualities, meaning that on the day of your interview, the officer might have been more interested in athletics and artistic talent than straight As and SAT scores.
Then again, perhaps the admissions officer’s decision had nothing to do with the weather at all, and more to do with the interviewees that preceded you. Perhaps those students were great candidates, and the admission officer just didn’t want to go on an acceptance streak.
But wait. Other irrelevant factors may also have influenced the decision. The admissions officer might have been hungry; he may have felt that sunny day was too hot, despite the air conditioning in the office; his hometown football team might have just lost an important game. Researchers have shown that each of these irrelevant factors can affect the decisions of bank loan officers, baseball umpires, physicians, and judges.
Importantly, in all of these scenarios, one person repeatedly confronts substantially the same situation, yet makes different judgments. Researchers call this variability occasion noise, and it’s one of the major categories of noise. But it’s not the only one.
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What is Noise about?
Noise (2021) is an exploration into the chaotic and costly role that randomness plays in human judgment. By uncovering the mechanisms behind how our minds and societies work, the authors show how noise – unwanted variability in decisions – is both inescapable and elusive. We can, however, with a few solid strategies, make our judgments less noisy and our world fairer.
Noise Review
Noise (2021) explores the pervasive problem of noise and its impact on our decision-making processes. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a deep dive into the concept of noise, revealing how it affects our judgments and distorts outcomes, helping readers gain a new perspective on decision-making.
- The book provides evidence-based insights and real-life examples, making it engaging and relatable, and equips readers with practical tools to reduce noise and improve decision quality.
- Through its thought-provoking analysis and fresh approach, Noise ensures that readers stay captivated, challenging their assumptions and encouraging critical thinking.
Who should read Noise?
- Behavioral economists, psychologists, CEOs, and students
- Anyone interested in how we make judgments and how those judgments shape society
- Anyone who cares about accuracy and fairness
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Noise FAQs
What is the main message of Noise?
The main message of Noise is that random factors can heavily influence decision-making and lead to errors and biases.
How long does it take to read Noise?
Reading Noise takes several hours. Reading the Blinkist summary takes just a few minutes.
Is Noise a good book? Is it worth reading?
Noise is worth reading because it sheds light on the impact of noise in decision-making and offers practical solutions. It's a valuable book for everyone.
Who is the author of Noise?
The authors of Noise are Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein.
What to read after Noise?
If you're wondering what to read next after Noise, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz
- Nudge by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein
- Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
- The Chimp Paradox by Prof Steve Peters
- Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
- Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- House of Huawei by Eva Dou