Thinking fast and slow
This book discusses the science behind the brain and our inability to reach its full potential. The author, Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel laureate, has done a spearheading task of analyzing the thinking process. His research works have methodically categorized systems that drive differently in each instance. This book helped me to analyze that most of the time what we believe and want is difficult to decipher. Often, mental work that produces intuition, biases, and prejudices strongly affects our decision-making. Here is my understanding of this book.
Daniel with his partners has engaged in a decade-long exploration and research in decision making and thinking. System 1 in our thinking is all about short-term predictions and has little understanding of statistics. Whereas, system 2 takes over when things get difficult.
Human thinking is limited by an urge to follow the law of the least effort. Hence, system 1 is always dominating our thinking process but is most responsible for putting us in danger.
The idea of mental energy is a metaphor. Cognitive thinking (rationality), ego depletion(refers to the idea that self-control or willpower draws upon a limited pool of mental resources that can be used up) are affected by our mood. The nervous system contains more glucose than any other part of the body. Thus, effortful mental activity reduces the blood glucose level and is an energy-sapping process. Thus we tend to avoid the use of system-2!
He suggests that we should familiarize ourselves more with the tasks that involve cognitive thinking. Constantly challenging ourselves, pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone helps to initialize thinking in system-2. This in longer strengthens rational thinking and keeps us vigilant.
There has been a wholesome study on thinking biases, like the Halo effect and causality. First impressions (emotional stance) and the chance of occurrence of an event keep us biased. In such instances, statistical information tends to be ignored while judging things and we tend to jump to conclusions, creating errors.
In the later part of the book, we can see many techniques, referred to as heuristics to choose and judge on the basis of the quality of memories. Duration neglect and peak-end rule come a long way in judgment. Our remembering self does create lots of bias by neglect and emphasizes distorted perceptions.
A good read overall. It will help you to make a step forward in making informed decisions.
