
How to Predict the Unpredictable: The Art of Outsmarting Almost Everybody (Paperback)
William Poundstone (author)Published: 04/09/2014
We are hard-wired to believe that the world is more predictable than it is. We chase 'winning streaks' that are often just illusions, and we are all too predictable exactly when we try hardest not to be.
In the 1970s, Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky coined the phrase 'representativeness' to describe the psychology of this behaviour. Since then representativeness has been used by auditors to catch people fiddling their tax returns and by hedge fund managers to reap billions from the emotions of small investors. Now Poundstone for the first time makes these techniques fun, easy, and profitable for everyone, in the everyday situations that matter. You'll learn how to tackle multiple choice tests, what internet passwords to avoid, how to up your odds of winning the office Premier League sweepstakes, and the best ways to invest your money.
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
ISBN: 9781780744070
Number of pages: 304
Weight: 240 g
Dimensions: 225 x 146 x 22 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Vivid [and] fascinating'
* Guardian *'[Poundstone's] underlying argument is both valid and vital. As he notes in his prologue, "the most important outguessing machine is the one known as Big Data". Shannon's mind-reading technology has become unavoidable and ubiquitous'
* New Scientist *'Poundstone calls on a fascinating array of examples to demonstrate his point. But be warned: these insights may not help much longer now that Poundstone has blabbed them. So read it quick' (5/5 Stars)
* BBC Focus *'Poundstone is a smart thinker, a deft writer and a spinner of engaging tales... enjoyable and original'
-- Tim Harford'Highly entertaining... brilliant'
* E&T magazine *'Ingenious... a delightful addition to the everything-you-thought-you-knew-is-wrong genre.'
* Kirkus Reviews *'Intriguing and immensely useful.'
* Publishers Weekly *'Fascinating... it's all gold-dust... this could save you real money'
* The Bookbag *You may also be interested in...
Please sign in to write a review
Sign In / Register
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?