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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Great Mental Models Volume 3 summary
Rhiannon Beaubien and Rosie Leizrowice
Systems and Mathematics
25 mins
Brief summary
The Great Mental Models Volume 3 by Rhiannon Beaubien and Rosie Leizrowice introduces more powerful ideas to enhance critical thinking. It teaches how to create models that accurately represent complex concepts and train the brain to think more effectively.
Table of Contents
The Great Mental Models Volume 3
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
The more mental models you can grasp, the better your problem-solving skills will be.
Imagine you have a toolbox – but it only has a hammer in it. That’s going to come in handy when you need to pound a nail. But what about when you need to tighten a bolt? A hammer won’t be much use; in that situation, what you need is a wrench.
Your knowledge toolbox works in the same way. Everyone uses a set of mental tools – also known as mental models – to understand the world. But each model is useful for different problems and situations. The best way to improve the quality of your thinking is to broaden your repertoire of mental models.
The key message here is: The more mental models you can grasp, the better your problem-solving skills will be.
The world is incredibly complex. It constantly presents the human mind with overwhelming amounts of information. Mental models are tools for simplifying all of that data into organized portions that you can mentally digest.
Most people stick to a specific set of mental models – usually from their given discipline. If you’re a psychologist, you’ll probably think in terms of incentives. If you’re a biologist, you’ll think in terms of evolution. If you’re an engineer, you’ll think in terms of systems. All of these models are useful because they’re durable representations of how the world works; they won’t ever change.
But, as we’ve seen, not all tools are useful for all problems. It’s only by combining models that you can broaden your perspective and look at one problem from multiple angles. This way, you’ll be more adept at making decisions that can generate positive changes.
In the following blinks, we’ll draw on wisdom from models of systems thinking and mathematics in particular. Systems exist everywhere in the world, and they play an important role in your day-to-day life. Mathematics, too, serves to explain much of how the world works, using patterns of logic. The two disciplines are largely interconnected – just as the models themselves.
These disciplines might sound abstract at first. But by breaking each one down, you’ll see that the models have practical – as well as metaphorical – applications across daily behaviors and interactions. Meanwhile, the more you reflect on your use of individual mental models, the better you’ll be able to identify which ones are best for a given situation.
Let’s dive in.
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What is The Great Mental Models Volume 3 about?
The Great Mental Models Volume 3 (2021) is the third book in a series that shows how mental models from various disciplines can be applied to make positive changes to your life. This volume focuses on mental models from systems and mathematics. It demonstrates how you can use cognitive tools to improve everything from decision-making and relationships to healthy eating and personal productivity.
The Great Mental Models Volume 3 Review
The Great Mental Models Volume 3 (2021) is a thought-provoking exploration of mental models and their practical applications. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with a plethora of real-world examples, it provides valuable insights and actionable strategies to enhance decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- By combining insights from various disciplines and weaving them together, the book offers a holistic approach to understanding complex systems and making better judgments.
- With its engaging and accessible writing style, the book effortlessly demystifies complex concepts, making it an enjoyable and informative read.
Who should read The Great Mental Models Volume 3?
- Decision-makers
- Problem-solvers
- The intellectually curious
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The Great Mental Models Volume 3 FAQs
What is the main message of The Great Mental Models Volume 3?
The main message of The Great Mental Models Volume 3 is to enhance your decision-making skills by understanding key mental models.
How long does it take to read The Great Mental Models Volume 3?
The reading time for The Great Mental Models Volume 3 varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in a few minutes.
Is The Great Mental Models Volume 3 a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Great Mental Models Volume 3 is worth reading as it provides practical tools to improve your thinking and decision-making abilities.
Who is the author of The Great Mental Models Volume 3?
The authors of The Great Mental Models Volume 3 are Rhiannon Beaubien and Rosie Leizrowice.
What to read after The Great Mental Models Volume 3?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Great Mental Models Volume 3, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Great Mental Models Volume 2 by Shane Parrish and Rhiannon Beaubien
- The Great Mental Models by Shane Parrish and Rhiannon Beaubien
- Mindware by Richard E. Nisbett
- Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows
- Super Thinking by Gabriel Weinberg with Lauren McCann
- Numbers Rule Your World by Kaiser Fung
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos
- The Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto
- How to Know a Person by David Brooks