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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Nonsense summary
Jamie Holmes
The Power of Not Knowing
14 mins
Brief summary
Nonsense by Jamie Holmes is a deep-dive into how humans make decisions, highlighting why we sometimes choose irrational options. The book shows how understanding our decision-making process can help us become better at analyzing information and making decisions.
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Nonsense
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Key idea 1 of 7
Amusing or eye-catching ambiguity can be a useful tool for comedians and marketers.
There’s a lot of nonsense and ambiguity in our daily lives, even though we don’t always notice it. We can’t always make sense of the things around us – and sometimes that makes us laugh!
Humor often hinges on subtle ambiguity. Consider the joke, “There are only three kinds of people in the world: those who can count and those who can’t.” It’s funny because it confuses you for a moment, then you realize that the joke rests in the fact that the teller can’t count. Small ambiguities like that grab our attention, then amuse us.
The same thing happens if someone says, “Call me a cab” and another person responds with the joke, “You’re a cab.” The humor hinges on the ambiguity of the first phrase, where “call” could mean make a phone call or call someone’s name.
Marketers know that people like this kind of playful ambiguity, and they know how to use it to their advantage. Good marketers know that ambiguity can be an effective way of grabbing people’s attention in advertising.
Sweden’s Absolut Vodka did this in the 1980s and 1990s when they launched a series of ads that featured hidden bottles you couldn’t notice right away. The fact that the vodka bottles were obscured made the ads more intriguing.
One ad, “Absolut Boston,” for example, featured several dozen Absolut Vodka cases floating in Boston Harbor. At first glance, the cases appeared to be placed randomly, but upon further inspection, you noticed that together they formed the shape of a bottle. The ad garnered a lot of attention for the company.
Nonsense isn’t always positive, however. It can also have the opposite effect.
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What is Nonsense about?
Nonsense (2015) is all about ambiguity and the effect it has on our lives. We encounter situations we don’t understand all the time, both in regular daily life and in extreme situations like natural disasters. These blinks outline the widespread effects, both negative and positive, that this nonsense has on our behavior, and why it’s so important to understand it.
Nonsense Review
Nonsense by Jamie Holmes (2015) explores the hidden value of ambiguity in our daily lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers compelling evidence that uncertainty and ambiguity can actually improve decision-making in various situations.
- With intriguing anecdotes and thought-provoking case studies, the book sheds light on how embracing ambiguity can lead to creative solutions and innovation.
- Through its exploration of the relationship between uncertainty and anxiety, the book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to embrace the unknown.
Best quote from Nonsense
The test of a first rate intelligence, is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. – F. Scott Fitzgerald.
—Jamie Holmes
Who should read Nonsense?
- Anyone tasked with important decision-making
- Negotiators and mediators
- Language teachers
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Nonsense FAQs
What is the main message of Nonsense?
Nonsense explores the benefits of embracing ambiguity and uncertainty in our lives.
How long does it take to read Nonsense?
Reading Nonsense takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Nonsense a good book? Is it worth reading?
Nonsense is worth reading for its insightful exploration of ambiguity and its impact on decision-making and creativity.
Who is the author of Nonsense?
Jamie Holmes is the author of Nonsense.
What to read after Nonsense?
If you're wondering what to read next after Nonsense, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Knowledge by Lewis Dartnell
- The Joy of Connections by Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer
- The Power of Not Thinking by Simon Roberts
- Extremely Hardcore by Zoë Schiffer
- Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
- The Anarchy by William Dalrymple
- Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David
- Confronting the Presidents by Bill O'Reilly
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne