The Up Side of Down
The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success by Megan McArdle
A non-fiction work covering all sorts of side of failure.
Neurology for instance. The reason we don't like failure is that it floods us with instructive chemicals with the message, "Don't do that." The importance of thinking of one's skills as capable of growth instead of being fixed by our abilities. Modelling markets and the discoveries that can be made about limited information -- which does not hinder the markets -- and lack of rules -- which does, seriously -- and how hard it is to prevent bubbles. The difference in economics for farmers vs. hunters and gatherers. Dud movies and the limits of testing. The unwillingness of people to admit they are blazing toward disaster, in cases like GM or those infamous memos that brought down Dan Rather, or her own break-up with a boyfriend. Medical errors and how many, many, many mistakes do not lead to failure. How to really make parolees like their parole program and adhere to it. The importance of the tick-off sheet in door-to-door canvassing. And much more. Very interesting.
A non-fiction work covering all sorts of side of failure.
Neurology for instance. The reason we don't like failure is that it floods us with instructive chemicals with the message, "Don't do that." The importance of thinking of one's skills as capable of growth instead of being fixed by our abilities. Modelling markets and the discoveries that can be made about limited information -- which does not hinder the markets -- and lack of rules -- which does, seriously -- and how hard it is to prevent bubbles. The difference in economics for farmers vs. hunters and gatherers. Dud movies and the limits of testing. The unwillingness of people to admit they are blazing toward disaster, in cases like GM or those infamous memos that brought down Dan Rather, or her own break-up with a boyfriend. Medical errors and how many, many, many mistakes do not lead to failure. How to really make parolees like their parole program and adhere to it. The importance of the tick-off sheet in door-to-door canvassing. And much more. Very interesting.