#695: Shane Parrish on Wisdom from Warren Buffett, Rules for Better Thinking, How to Reduce Blind Spots, The Dangers of Mental Models, and More

3386 snips

Sep 27, 2023

Shane Parrish, entrepreneur and wisdom seeker behind Farnam Street, dives into the intricacies of decision-making and critical thinking. He discusses how AI may hinder our cognitive abilities and the importance of reflective writing. The conversation touches on cognitive biases, personal growth from turbulent pasts, and the power of positioning in decision-making. Parrish also shares insights into simplifying choices with automatic rules for better productivity, emphasizing the balance of support in parenting and the role of habits in enhancing well-being.

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ANECDOTE

Stopwatch Gang

Shane Parrish was a straight-D student until grade 10, getting into trouble.
Reading "The Stopwatch Gang" kept him home one night, saving him from being caught breaking into a house with friends.

ANECDOTE

Intelligence Agency Job

Despite a teacher predicting he wouldn't graduate, Shane Parrish landed a job at an intelligence agency.
His physics professor, who disliked him, gave him a poor reference due to a misunderstanding about assignment submissions.

INSIGHT

Impact of Moving

Moving frequently allows children to experiment with different social roles and identities.
It can hinder deep relationship investment, making it harder to form lasting connections later.

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The 4-Hour Body

An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman

Tim Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Body,' Tim Ferriss shares the results of over a decade of self-experimentation and research, involving hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of personal testing. The book covers more than 50 topics, including how to lose weight quickly, gain muscle without steroids, sleep less and perform better, and improve sexual health. Ferriss emphasizes the importance of finding the smallest changes that produce the biggest results, making it accessible for readers to achieve significant improvements in their physical health and performance.

The stopwatch gang

Greg Weston

Greg Weston's "The Stopwatch Gang" recounts the true story of three Canadian bank robbers who targeted American banks in the 1990s. The book details their daring heists, their surprisingly affable personalities, and the cat-and-mouse game they played with the FBI. It explores themes of ambition, risk-taking, and the allure of the American Dream, highlighting the complexities of the criminals' motivations and the consequences of their actions. The narrative offers a unique perspective on crime, challenging conventional stereotypes and prompting reflection on the choices individuals make. The book's impact extends beyond the crime genre, offering insights into human nature and the pursuit of success.

Clear Thinking

Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results

Shane Parrish

In 'Clear Thinking', Shane Parrish provides a comprehensive manual for improving decision-making and personal growth. The book highlights how most people operate on autopilot, driven by behavioral defaults shaped by biology, evolution, and culture. Parrish offers strategies to recognize and capitalize on pivotal moments between stimulus and response, using stories, mental models, and a 4-stage decision process (define, explore, evaluate, execute). The book aims to help readers build self-knowledge, self-control, and self-confidence, and to make better decisions by balancing emotions with rational thinking and gathering high-quality information.

Buffett

The Making of an American Capitalist

Roger Lowenstein

This book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of Warren Buffett’s life, from his early days to his ascension as one of the most successful investors in history. Written by Roger Lowenstein, the book is based on three years of research and includes interviews with Buffett’s family, friends, and business associates. It explores Buffett’s investment strategies, his long-term philosophy of buying undervalued stocks, and his role in transforming Berkshire Hathaway into a highly successful corporation. The book also delves into Buffett’s personal life and the influences that shaped his investment approach, including his mentor Benjamin Graham and his partnership with Charlie Munger.

Lateral Thinking

Edward de Bono

In this book, Edward de Bono introduces the concept of lateral thinking as an alternative to the traditional vertical thinking taught in schools. Vertical thinking is logical and sequential, aiming to find one correct solution, while lateral thinking involves exploring multiple possibilities and suspending judgment to generate creative ideas. The book offers various techniques, such as the reversal method, brainstorming, and random stimulation, to help readers think outside the box and approach problems from different angles. De Bono emphasizes the importance of breaking patterns, challenging assumptions, and using analogies to stimulate new ways of thinking. The book is designed to help readers become more productive and formidable thinkers by applying these techniques in their daily lives.