Decisive
by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
A four-step process for better decisions, WRAP: widen your options, reality-test your assumptions, attain distance before deciding, prepare to be wrong. It is built on the decision-science literature and made practical with stories and checklists. It is the most usable book on decisions for ordinary life.
Read it if…
you agonize over decisions or make them too fast, and want a process.
Skip it if…
you want deep theory; read Kahneman and come back.
Three things you will actually use
- Avoid narrow framing; consider more options.
- Ask what would have to be true for each option to be best.
- Set tripwires to revisit the decision.
Do this first
For your next decision, add at least one more real option before choosing; 'whether or not' is a trap.
Our verdict
Practical and well-made; the decision book to actually use.
Compare with other Mindset books
The Art of Thinking Clearly
Rolf Dobelli · Mindset
Handy and shallow; a reference, not an argument.
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Learned Optimism
Martin E. P. Seligman · Mindset
Foundational and practical; the original learned-optimism manual.
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Before Happiness
Shawn Achor · Mindset
Decent sequel; the first book is enough for most readers.
CLICK TO SEEBrowse all Mindset book reviews or get the free Reality Code Cheat Sheet.
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