You can’t review books whose authors dare to tell truths.Like Munger and Taleb and Mr.Money Mustache.
Nassim Nicolas Taleb wrote the book, Skin in the Game: The Hidden asymmetries of Daily life, and today I will tell you what happens when you look inside your own brain. That doesn’t make sense. But that’s what happens when you read this book and sift through all your own beliefs, preconceptions, and `understandings.
You go through life feeling like a misfit. But you do well personally and professionally. You miss ruin and troubles sometimes by luck. You automatically identify the shifty-eyed insurance agent as untrustworthy, just like the neighborhood good-for-nothing uncle. In that case, my blog post today is for you, or you can read Miss Marple by Agatha Christie.
The books by these authors I mention should be mandatory reading before you become adults. Yes, even if you are over eighteen, adulting may have skipped you. When I read Skin in the Game, I was confused. How is it that you read important stuff when you least expect it?
The funniest thing about the book:
The author has a fascinating opinion about macroeconomics and journalists. I am being polite here.
The two unpredictable thing about the book?
How something so full of worldly wisdom can make you laugh.
Mr.Taleb’s total lack of fear about being called out by “book reviewers.”
Who is this book not for?
Skin in the Game: The Hidden asymmetries of Daily life is not a book for the faint-hearted. It’s not a book for you, if you only like to talk about roses and always ignore the “thorns.”
- If preventive healthcare is not something you like, wisdom that prevents problems may appear rude reading material.
- But if you have an open mind or at least think you do. Plus, if journey inside your own mind and asking challenging questions to your own mind doesn’t strike fear in the crevices of your mind.
- If you like to do things so that your inner nemesis stops boring you to death with I told you so you must read this book.
Sharing some pearls of wisdom to avoid hidden inequalities
When you have Skin in the Game, you do away with cosmetics. Taking advice from people without Skin in the Game is behind many of your woes.
- Strengths are more important than weaknesses. Focus on the former.
- The power of peer pressure shouldn’t be underestimated.
- Better safe than sorry.Sounds boring but works every time.
- First, live, then philosophize. If the choice doesn’t ensure survival, then the option needs to be dunked.
My favorite part :About taking risks and skipping ruin
If there’s a risk of ruin, that’s not worth taking. Mistakes are human but total ruin is not acceptable. If something can cause ruin, the real or alleged benefits can never offset risks.
Every single risk adds up to reduced life expectancy.
It is the consequences that matter. Systemic effects which will affect more than one person should they happen. Tail risk analysis for repeated exposure is often ignored. Understand the tail risk of your choices.
Rationality is avoidance of systemic ruin. Being a rational optimist is a great way to live.
Do you have Skin in the Game?
Then wearing a mask will help fight COVID. As the author talks about the multiplicative fat-tailed risk, I realized why people fail to take prevention seriously. They aren’t aware or don’t care about the people who contact them might be at a higher risk.
Always do What you are afraid to do.
Emerson
If you don’t like truth, facts, unwrapping problems to solve them, give this one a wide berth. It will give you nightmares. You are a sum total of your choices and then something more.
Saying that this is the most thought-provoking book I read in September.
The best part Munger’s principles sit well with what the author writes about. My website and financial independence journey have a lot to do with Charlie Munger and Mr.Money Mustache, and this book is about Life wisdom as they are to making and keeping money.
Sleep well, my friend, because after you read this, you might just lose some sleep! Writing this for My Friend Alexa with Blogchatter.
Sharing is good Karma!
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Whoa! This is quite a fascinating review, and coming from you, I need to check this book out. Thanks for the recommendation. #MyFriendAlexa #TinasPicks
I found it thought provoking.
being an optimist is the only way to live according to me… seems like a good book. I love humour out of worldly things…
Seems to be an interesting book… let me see if I can pick it up sometime soon…
Do let me know your thoughts
Loved how you have written. neat review about it. would get my hands on for this weekend
Thank you
Loved the review and I must read this book. I love challenges as it makes life exciting.
Your honest review on Skin In The Game is definitely pushing me to grab the book soon. I too agree authors who talk about the truth, are more challenging when it comes to review their book.
True.Thank you
Reading books that raises self-doubt must be strong in the words that reader ponder and reanalyze their priorities. Shall check this book and add in my next year TBR.
Thank you
This certainly seems like a nice read Amrita. Will look it up.
Thanks Pratibha
A very honest review and an interesting read where the authors tell about real facts if life which we either ignore or try not to indulge fearing ruins.
Thank you
Seems to be a heartfelt honest post. Informative
Thank you
Interesting thoughts and a different way to look.
Yes I thought so too.
This book sounds quite intriguing. I have not read any of these authors you mentioned in the post. Not sure if I would enjoy reading such different genre.
Reading is definitely a personal choice Neha.Thanks for reading.
Now your post made me curious about this book. I am definitely going to read this one.
‘How something so full of worldly wisdom can make you laugh’
This made me want to pick up the book and I just might 😀
Doc, first of all, I found a new voice in your writing, in this blog post and review. Very intriguing review. Also, one thing that actually resonated the most with me was you mentioning to focus on strengths rather than weaknesses. I often tell this to my students as well.
That’s very interesting Aesha.I would love to know more about what you said about the new voice part😊
Honestly I had not heard about Nassim Nicola Taleb, and now that I know about him, I feel like I was living under a rock. This has been a gem of a post, loved the way you wrote about this book!
Sounds like quite the provoking book! I love books that make me question my beliefs and who I am. It just tells me that I connected with the book 🙂
shall check the book, looks interesting.
Your review has me intrigued. You are right, books such as these lay it all bare. I might pick it up.
Wow, what a review, Amrita. I am excited to take up this book but before that sleep well!