Maxims for Thinking Analytically

Book excerpt: The goal of this book is to help you think more analytically, which can lead you to better understand the world around you, make smarter decisions, and ultimately live a more fulfilling life. It is based on the ideas of Richard Zeckhauser, a legendary Harvard professor who has helped hundreds of students and colleagues progress toward this goal. It is organized around maxims, one-sentence nuggets of wisdom, illustrated with practical examples from Richard's colleagues and students. Learn how one of Richard's colleagues saved money on her wedding by thinking probabilistically, how Richard and his wife Sally made an agonizing health decision that significantly enhanced Sally's survival probabilities, and how the prime minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, used a maxim he learned from Richard 40 years ago to understand and deal with COVID-19 in his country. The book is for anyone who wants to think more effectively about the world.