Fooled by Randomness cover art

Fooled by Randomness

The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets

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Fooled by Randomness

By: Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
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About this listen

This audiobook is about luck, or more precisely, how we perceive and deal with luck in life and business. It is already a landmark work and its title has entered our vocabulary. In its second edition, Fooled by Randomness is now a cornerstone for anyone interested in random outcomes.

Set against the backdrop of the most conspicuous forum in which luck is mistaken for skill, the world of trading, this audiobook is a captivating insight into one of the least understood factors of all our lives. In an entertaining narrative style, the author succeeds in tackling three major intellectual issues: the problem of induction, the survivorship biases, and our genetic unfitness to the modern word. Taleb uses stories and anecdotes to illustrate our overestimation of causality and the heuristics that make us view the world as far more explainable than it actually is.

The audiobook is populated with an array of characters, some of whom have grasped, in their own way, the significance of chance: Yogi Berra, the baseball legend; Karl Popper, the philosopher of knowledge; Solon, the ancient world's wisest man; the modern financier George Soros; and the Greek voyager Ulysses. We also meet the fictional Nero, who seems to understand the role of randomness in his professional life, but who also falls victim to his own superstitious foolishness.

But the most recognizable character remains unnamed, the lucky fool in the right place at the right time - the embodiment of the "Survival of the Least Fit". Such individuals attract devoted followers who believe in their guru's insights and methods. But no one can replicate what is obtained through chance.

It may be impossible to guard against the vagaries of the Goddess Fortuna, but after listening to Fooled by Randomness we can be a little better prepared.

©2004 Nassim Nicholas Taleb (P)2008 Gildan Media Corp
Investing & Trading Mathematics Personal Finance Philosophy Investing Thought-Provoking Business Stock Computer Science

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Critic reviews

"[Taleb is] Wall Street's principal dissident....[ Fooled by Randomness] is to conventional Wall Street wisdom approximately what Martin Luther's ninety-nine theses were to the Catholic Church." (Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker)
"An articulate, wise, and humorous meditation on the nature of success and failure that anyone who wants a little more of the former would do well to consider." (Amazon.com)
All stars
Most relevant
Such a massively acclaimed book, and it is very good, but I suppose it didn't quite meet its potentially unmeetable expectations.

Nevertheless, there is a core set of important learnings gained from going through the book.

Very unique style. Feels disjointed and random until something suddenly clicks. Nice change of pace.

Excellent but the hype is a bit much.

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the central theme of people retrofitting narrative to random events was fascinating and chimed with what you hear in the news, at work and following sport. There was plenty I had heard in other books particularly around irrational behaviours which is a taking interesting area. what detracted somewhat from the book was the first person ranting of person who clearly has a number of chips on their should and who comes across rather arrogant and socially awkward. This shouldn't really affect the listen however I found the style of writing made it difficult to ignore and I almost have up somewhere in the middle. glad I finished it though.

good book but some irritating aspects

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The early stages give an impression that the author just wants to laud his intellectual superiority over his 'peers'.
Don't be put off this is actually just a very reflective, fun and self aware style. This becomes evident quickly.

The topics covered are illuminating and useful! Practically speaking anyone could use this book to become more competent, either professionally or otherwise.

First impression IS deceiving (re: bad reviews)

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Fooled by Randomness is both enlightening and entertaining.

Taleb confirmed what I've always known: I'm a lucky fool!

Superb

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This book highlights important flaws in day to day thinking, at all echelons of business and life.

An Important Read

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