Paperback, like new.

The book's journey continues by its finder's cooperation and creativity. By making a journal entry on this book, you can add to the book's story as it travels from reader to reader around the world.

Loaned to a friend to read on the plane

reserved for one book a month game
Entries:
readinghelps (Australia)

The book is going to readinghelps (Australia)

You've found a travelling book. Hurray!
The book's journey continues by its finder's cooperation and creativity. By making a journal entry on this book, you can add to the book's story as it travels from reader to reader around the world.
Enjoy your reading!

Привет!
Спасибо, что нашли время зайти на сайт и сделать запись в журнале! Напишите, когда и где вы нашли книгу.
Перед тем, как попасть к Вам, она побывала в других уголках света. История ее путешествий записана на сайте, и теперь к ней добавился еще один пункт. Я очень рада, что она нашла нового читателя в Вашем лице.

Received yesterday. Thank you. I'm currently reading Martin Luther, by Eric Metaxas but plan to read this after that sometime.

Lent to a friend in the meantime.

This one came back to me again, after being passed around and read by various people. I've started reading it, and it's quite interesting so far.


I like the idea of a whole book on the topic of snap decision-making. When faced with a decision, we always wonder which choice is the right one. Sometimes it is obvious; we know that one path will have bad consequences and the other good ones. Other times, it's not so clear; will we regret our decision later? What has helped me is this quote by William Hutchinson (often mistakenly attribute to Goethe):

'Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.'

I have found this to be true. Just forge ahead without too many second thoughts. Don't look back, like Lot's wife, who became a pillar of salt. The decisive approach to life often has a blessing in it.

'No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.' - Luke 9:62

I have finished this one and passed it on to a friend. Overall, it was a well-researched and interesting book on a topic that I find intriguing. At first, I thought the book would make a strong case for relying more on snap decisions, rather than analytical ones. In a way it did, but many of the examples actually demonstrated how unreliable snap decision can be, because of our subconscious biases. This led to the inevitable question of when to 'go with our gut' and when to weigh up the pros and cons. This question was never truly answered. Gladwell quotes Sigmund Freud:

"When making a decision of minor importance, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons. In vital matters, however, such as the choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should come from the unconscious, from somewhere within ourselves. In the important decisions of personal life, we should be governed, I think, by the deep inner needs of our nature."

But also tells us that 'the unconscious' can only make reliable decisions if we have considerable experience in the area concerned. So, if a teenager is deciding on a career, for example, how can he trust his snap decision if he has only limited life experience? This paradox was never really solved. Perhaps that is because it never can be; there is no simple mathematical formula for life's decisions.

However, after reading the book, I am inclined to trust my gut instincts more, and analyse my decisions less (paralysis by analysis).

Now, I have started The Incredulity of Father Brown, by G. K. Chesterton

Leant to a friend. I'm currently reading Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo