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Ask HN: Any recommended books on developing mental models?
- gallerdude 9y agoIt’s been recommended to death on HN, but Sapiens is a really interesting look at the development of humans. It uses a lot of philosophy to explain things.
- vog 9y agoSorry in advance for this perhaps stupid question, but: Which Sapiens exactly do you mean? Is it an article, a book, a documentary movie, a presentation such as a TED talk? Which is the full title? I suppose you mean the book "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" (ISBN 978-0062316097), but I'm honestly not sure if I guessed correctly.
- Luc 9y agoUse Occam's Razor?
- vog 9y agoUse proper URIs? (Or in this case: an ISBN, which serves the same purpose. Unambiguous references are no longer an open issue. Open issue are: the lazyness to not use them, and persistent references (until either Bittorrent or IPFS is fully deployed).)
- gallerdude 9y agoYeah, that’s it. OP asked for books, so I figured that would be enough. Sorry for the confusion.
- tvanantwerp 9y agoNot a book, but I recommend as a starting point the Farnam Street blog: https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/mental-models/ https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/mental-models/
- aalhour 9y agoI second this. The Farnam Blog is a great resource. You can start here to get a flavour of the content and writing style: * Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (113 Models Explained) - https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/mental-models/ https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/mental-models/
- galfarragem 9y agoHis (scarce) podcasts are also very well done. I used to follow a lot of self improvement podcasts and after having listened a lot in the last 5y, it's one of the few that I still follow and consider relevant.
- sn9 9y agoHis list of mental models is great, but I suspect that most people (myself included) would get more out of using the list as a means of searching for books (textbooks in particular) that teach you about the list items incidentally as part of a greater framework of knowledge. The only reason I even recognize many of those items as useful is because I encountered them in university courses.
- vga805 9y agoIntuition pumps and other tools for thinking, by Dan dennett.
- booleandilemma 9y agoHave a look at this: Mental Models I Find Repeatedly Useful https://medium.com/@yegg/mental-models-i-find-repeatedly-useful-936f1cc405d https://medium.com/@yegg/mental-models-i-find-repeatedly-use...
- Zhyl 9y agoGabriel is known for creating the DuckDuckGo search engine.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- allenleein 9y ago1. Principles by Ray Dalio https://www.principles.com/ https://www.principles.com/ 2. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
- patricklouys 9y agoJocko is great. I also really enjoyed "Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual" I think it's a little more to the point compared to Extreme Ownership.
- vector_rotcev 9y agoBest thing for getting stuff into your head: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1250623.How_to_Develop_a_Brilliant_Memory_Week_by_Week https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1250623.How_to_Develop_a... Much like weight lifting, following this book will give you specific memorisation techniques which can be useful, but also results in a general strengthening of memory, even when you don't use any of the exact techniques). It also strengthens your ability to imagine things, and hold those images or arrangements in your head, which is useful for applying mental models you've learnt. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9793361-the-decision-book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9793361-the-decision-boo... Not the best, and I only really use the first one in the book (Eisenhower Matrix), but I found that alone to be worth the price (you could just google that one though). The rest of it is useful as examples of the wide variety of model types and types of things that can be modelled. Thinking in Systems: A Primer, is a great book that I highly recommend. It's one of those books that serves as a great introduction to the subject of creating models of systems, and it's neither too long, nor overly specific on any particular subject. By the end of it, you'll know roughly enough to be able to know what you want to know next, in regards to system models. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3828902-thinking-in-systems https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3828902-thinking-in-syst... This blog post is more like a reference resource, and I think it's worth looking over and picking out whatever interests you: https://medium.com/@yegg/mental-models-i-find-repeatedly-useful-936f1cc405d https://medium.com/@yegg/mental-models-i-find-repeatedly-use... EDIT: because my formatting was atrocious.
- juvoni 9y agoPoor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin To Munger
- patricklouys 9y agoI was about to suggest the same books. Seeking Wisdom in particular had a big influence on me.
- schuetze 9y ago“Thinking in Systems: A Primer” by Dana Meadows. One of the best books for understanding the worlds systems intuitively. Allows you to use a mathematical framework without needing precise numbers to get a model off the ground.
- shrthnd 9y agoRelated to this, "The Systems Thinking Playbook" is an excellent resource for demonstrating applied systems-thinking (and the power of mental-models) in a workshop setting.
- intellectronica 9y agoEverything on https://www.lesserwrong.com/ https://www.lesserwrong.com/ - start with the recommended collections then dive in. Many of the more established texts are available as ebooks if you prefer.
- leroy_masochist 9y agoCheck out this biography of Col Boyd (the OODA Loop guy): https://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Fighter-Pilot-Who-Changed/dp/0316796883 https://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Fighter-Pilot-Who-Changed/dp/031... It's a total hagiography with some dubious historical claims, but a fun and interesting read nonetheless.
- pgrote 9y agoMental Models Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior by Indi Young is excellent. http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/mental-models/ http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/mental-models/
- austenallred 9y agoPossibly not what you’re looking for, but the Leonardo Da Vinci biography by Isaacson has the clearest example of that I’ve ever seen. Leonardo’s methodology of learning is incredible and inspiring.
- abhiyerra 9y agoScience, strategy and war. Dives into the thoughts behind John Boyd’s OODA loop. Really good book.
- startupdiscuss 9y agoI've found that mental models -- even very abstract mental models -- are often domain specific, and benefit from domain expertise. The most general mental models I have seen come from consultants who hop from industry to industry (SWOT for a business, of the BCG matrix) but even they are specific to firms and companies. Broadly speaking, these are often adaptable to any group effort. There are a lot of books on these mental models or "strategy frameworks"
- zitterbewegung 9y agoI use deconstruction nearly every day to understand what is happening. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation Deconstruction with lit crit is somewhat effective. Deconstruction to develop a mental model is EXTREMELY effective.
- trendia 9y agoHow do you distinguish between deconstruction that is accurate vs one that is "useful" but inaccurate? It seems rather easy to use deconstruction to see things that aren't really there.
- zitterbewegung 9y agoYes, that is an astute observation and the only way you can gauge accuracy is to confirm ground truth some other way. Try probing the system so that it conforms to your model and revise it when new evidence is apparent.
- tuxxy 9y ago>confirm ground truth I'm not a philosopher, but I do enjoy reading and learning about post modernism. Isn't a large point of this book that you actually can't confirm a "ground truth"?
- zitterbewegung 9y agoYea, but when I use it in practice I have to verify if my assertions are true. So I guess I'm doing "reconstruction" I'm not sure.
- thyrsus 9y ago...and remember to make tests that don't confirm your model. If the set is 2, 4, 8, and your model is "powers of two", then, sure test 16, but also test 1, 3, 6, 0.5, 0.1 (maybe the correct model is "also 2 to the power 0" or "two to any integer, including negatives" or "all even numbers" or "any integer" - or something else).
- 3stripe 9y agoLiminal Thinking by Dave Gray. This is a good primer https://alistapart.com/article/liminal-thinking https://alistapart.com/article/liminal-thinking
- yanilkr 9y agoI found this very useful. https://www.coursera.org/learn/model-thinking https://www.coursera.org/learn/model-thinking
- emre 9y agoThinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. I read it again every now and then. Explains cognitive biases, prospect theory and happiness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow
- sailfast 9y agoThis book was excellent for informing mental models. I'd also say "How to Solve It" by Polya helps create a good mental model for problem solving that can apply to most any situation that requires structured thinking.
- derekja 9y agoBig book of concepts by Gregory Murphy. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001KW0APW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514312212&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Big+book+of+concept https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001KW0APW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=...
- klochner 9y agoTren Griffin is a big proponent of Charlie Munger’s use of mental modals. This post has a good list of models: https://25iq.com/2015/08/22/a-dozen-things-ive-learned-from-charlie-munger-about-mental-models-and-worldly-wisdom/ https://25iq.com/2015/08/22/a-dozen-things-ive-learned-from-... Tren’s weekly ‘dozen things I’ve learned from foo’ series is generally high quality.
- razvanlm 9y agoA Mind for Numbers. https://www.amazon.ca/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/dp/039916524X https://www.amazon.ca/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/d... This was a companion book for a very popular MOOC called "Learning How to Learn". This gives you insights and practical advice on learning and it works for any subject, not just math & science.
- walterbell 9y ago“The Decison Book: 50 Models for Strategic Thinking”, quick 2-page overview + diagram for each model. Good starting point and you can find other books to deep dive on models that you find useful. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00C57C392 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00C57C392
- paloaltokid 9y agoI recommend "The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald A. Norman. It's not necessarily about developing mental models, but more about the fallout of how people can mistakenly use systems if you don't make the mental model of your design intuitive.
- yusufp 9y agoJust started going down this rabbit hole myself. I've noticed to really grasp and develop your own mental models you deeply have to understand a few things first: 1. Human biases: Every mental model is built upon some human bias. 2. How incentives work: Understanding the motivation behind why people do what they do. 3. Mental thought construction: Understanding how the brain gathers, processes and stores information. 4. Biology: How we've evolved (and haven't) from stone age times and how that still influences us today. This is by no means exhaustive but are just some of the topics I've found most useful. That said, here are the best resources I've found: - The Art Of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli: Taught me about human biases. Reads like a directory of most biases. - Influence by Robert Cialdini: Taught me about incentives and a whole lot more. - Metaphors We Live By by George Lakoff: Taught me about mental thought construction. - Poor Charlie's Almanack by Charles Munger: Taught me about many things but most importantly good decision making. - Sapiens by Yuval Harari and his course https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE-kxvSEhkzDEmLQx3RE09aKO4WS-M84t https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE-kxvSEhkzDEmLQx3RE0...: Taught me about how we've evolved as humans and how we haven't. - Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: Taught me more about human biases. - Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely: Taught me more about how and why we make decisions and what good decisions are. The thing I've really started to notice is it's not enough to know or read about mental models, you have to ruthlessly apply them. This is tough when even knowing about your biases doesn't stop you from still being affected by them.
- gfody 9y agothis is a great list. I would add Hofstadter's Analogy as the fuel and fire of thinking and Chomsky's New horizons in the study of language and mind. they show that language structures are fundamental to consciousness.
- LifeisFaith 9y agoCreative Thinkers Toolkit is the best book I read and re-read with regards to mental model formation. https://www.amazon.com/The-Creative-Thinkers-Toolkit/dp/B00GT1MXHM https://www.amazon.com/The-Creative-Thinkers-Toolkit/dp/B00G...
- Danihan 9y agoTo develop mental models you need to start at the ground floor, with understanding basic human nature. https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion/dp/0307455777 https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Relig... https://www.amazon.com/Blank-Slate-Modern-Denial-Nature/dp/0142003344 https://www.amazon.com/Blank-Slate-Modern-Denial-Nature/dp/0...
- mzzter 9y agoAn Introduction to General Systems Thinking by Gerald Weinberg is a good overview on Systems theory. It covers different approaches to developing a mental model of systems.
- robmay 9y agoI like "Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger" https://tinyurl.com/y97dlzr8 https://tinyurl.com/y97dlzr8 and "Art of Decisions: Managing in an Uncertain World" by Chris Blake https://tinyurl.com/ya7lyglr https://tinyurl.com/ya7lyglr
- sweetdreamerit 9y agohttps://www.amazon.com/Mental-Models-Cognitive-Inference-Consciousness/dp/0674568826 https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Models-Cognitive-Inference-Con... Quite old, but probably the best book about mental models
- kaycebasques 9y agoWhat exactly are we all talking about here when we use the phrase "mental models"? The most memorable use of the phrase to me is Charlie Munger's "Poor Charlie's Almanack". If I recall correctly, whenever he makes a big decision, he runs through a checklist of each of his MMs, to see if that way of thinking gives him any insight into the matter at hand. The key thing, though, is that it isn't just limited to human psychology. He supposedly has a great interest in a whole variety of fields. A Renaissance Man. For example, I recall him using thermodynamics as a metaphor for explaining some seemingly-unrelated topic (e.g. business analysis).
- oh_sigh 9y ago'Seeking wisdom' by Munger
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- travmatt 9y agoFor politics, “The Righteous Mind” by Jonathan Haidt and “The Dictators Handbook” from Bruce Buena de Mesquita will give you a great basis for understanding political motivations.
- dpeck 9y agoI enjoyed reading and feel like I got a lot out of Thinking in Systems: A Primer https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Systems-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/1603580557 https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Systems-Donella-H-Meadows/dp...
- MrRoberts 9y agoIshmael https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi0j4OCkKnYAhUJRN8KHe5jCRAQFghWMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FIshmael-Novel-Daniel-Quinn%2Fdp%2F0553375407&usg=AOvVaw1WHttN6zZ0kuNvHeIsxyxS https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c...
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- dereg 9y agoI work in investments, and I make More Than You Know, by Michael Maubossin, required reading. He does an excellent job synthesizing information across fields. I highly recommend it for anybody interested in diving into the field of mental models. It is a book with many citations, so an avid reader will be served well by this book as a launchpad for more learning. http://amzn.to/2BW8e8l http://amzn.to/2BW8e8l
- PTPells 9y agoWhat makes something feel alive? How do you design it to be so? Christopher Alexander answers in "The Timeless Way of Building": https://www.amazon.com/Timeless-Way-Building-Christopher-Alexander/dp/0195024028 https://www.amazon.com/Timeless-Way-Building-Christopher-Ale...
- alexi23 9y agoAn overview of some key Mental Models, from physics to literature. Hagstrom does a good job of demonstrating Charlie's theory that models for various disciplines are more powerful in aggregate than they are on their own.
- zuzuleinen 9y agoWhile not a book, I have created a very simple program which fetches a random cognitive bias from Wikipedia. I've set it up on a daily cron and now I receive every day a cognitive bias on my e-mail and read it on breakfast. So far some biases really stuck with me and I notice myself referring to them every time I'm thinking about something. With the results I have only for a couple of weeks I'm definitely planning to use it all my life. Here is the code: https://github.com/zuzuleinen/bibi https://github.com/zuzuleinen/bibi
- sathley 9y agohttps://www.amazon.com/Filters-Against-Folly-Economists-Ecologists/dp/0140077294 https://www.amazon.com/Filters-Against-Folly-Economists-Ecol...
- EdwardCoffin 9y agoDescartes' Regulae (Rules for the Direction of the Mind). There are online copies, but all the ones I have found are incomplete. The best one is in John Cottingham's The Philosophical Writings of Descartes: Volume 1 [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_for_the_Direction_of_the_Mind https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_for_the_Direction_of_the...
- 9214 9y agohttps://github.com/perspectivesonatheme/patterns https://github.com/perspectivesonatheme/patterns
- skyfeet 9y agoSee Arthur Koestler's book "The Ghost in the Machine" published in 1967. Koestler coined the word "holon". A holon is a whole functional and structural unit while at the same time a part of a larger whole, which is itself a part of an even larger whole. Koestler sees life as a hierarchy of holons. For example, a mitochondrion is a structural and functional unit with its own code of instructions while being a part of a cell, which is another holon, which is part of an organism, another holon, which is part of a social group, yet another holon. It occurred to me that consciousness may also be a hierarchy of holons. A whole can only be known from a "holistic" perspective. Any attempt to reduce it to parts to understand the whole destroys the character of the whole. This may help explain why reductionist science has had little success in explaining consciousness.