5 ms·

Congrats on completing another book! Mental models seem to be a popular topic to write about in the last few years. As someone that has already devoured a lot

by eswat 7y ago

Congrats on completing another book! Mental models seem to be a popular topic to write about in the last few years. As someone that has already devoured a lot of content about this, is there a good reason to pick up your book if I don't necessarily want to make the time to read more on the topic?

yegg 7y ago
Thanks! Here are some reasons why I think it is worth picking up even if you've read a lot on mental models already: * The mental model community likes to quote Charlie Munger saying "80 or 90 important models will carry about 90% of the freight in making you a worldly-wise person" and yet no one tries to systematically lists out all these models. This book attempts to do that. * We spent most of our time finding relatable examples outside the discipline in which a given mental model arises, which is why they are supposed to be useful. That is, we don't just tell you what it is, we try to tell you why it is generally useful in strategic decision making and how you might apply it personally and professionally. * We dropped the normal method of grouping models by discipline, and instead grouped them by theme, weaving models from different disciplines together around unintended consequences, decision models, etc. (nine chapters). * We commissioned and/or found illustrations/comics (150+ in total) to help better explain and remember the models, as well as make it more fun to consume!
- AnimalMuppet 7y ago
  Actually, in the talk where Munger said that, he listed most of the 80 or 90. He didn't go into depth on any of them, but he listed them.
giardini 7y ago
Yes. I was recommended Page's "The Model Thinker" https://www.amazon.com/Model-Thinker-What-Need-Know/dp/0465094627 https://www.amazon.com/Model-Thinker-What-Need-Know/dp/04650... when this YC topic popped up. Page's book is sort of a reference book, something you use periodically rather than a beginning-to-end read. But it does seem that "models" are all the rage currently.
giardini 7y ago
The content of these books is essentially classical operations research (OR), first was used by the Allies in World War II in attempts to optimize military cost-effectiveness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_research https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_research

by eswat 7y ago

yegg 7y ago

Thanks! Here are some reasons why I think it is worth picking up even if you've read a lot on mental models already: * The mental model community likes to quote Charlie Munger saying "80 or 90 important models will carry about 90% of the freight in making you a worldly-wise person" and yet no one tries to systematically lists out all these models. This book attempts to do that. * We spent most of our time finding relatable examples outside the discipline in which a given mental model arises, which is why they are supposed to be useful. That is, we don't just tell you what it is, we try to tell you why it is generally useful in strategic decision making and how you might apply it personally and professionally. * We dropped the normal method of grouping models by discipline, and instead grouped them by theme, weaving models from different disciplines together around unintended consequences, decision models, etc. (nine chapters). * We commissioned and/or found illustrations/comics (150+ in total) to help better explain and remember the models, as well as make it more fun to consume!

AnimalMuppet 7y ago
Actually, in the talk where Munger said that, he listed most of the 80 or 90. He didn't go into depth on any of them, but he listed them.

giardini 7y ago

Yes. I was recommended Page's "The Model Thinker" https://www.amazon.com/Model-Thinker-What-Need-Know/dp/0465094627 https://www.amazon.com/Model-Thinker-What-Need-Know/dp/04650... when this YC topic popped up. Page's book is sort of a reference book, something you use periodically rather than a beginning-to-end read. But it does seem that "models" are all the rage currently.

giardini 7y ago

The content of these books is essentially classical operations research (OR), first was used by the Allies in World War II in attempts to optimize military cost-effectiveness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_research https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_research