
Fooled by Randomness
The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets
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Narrated by:
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Sean Pratt
Set against the backdrop of the most conspicuous forum in which luck is mistaken for skill, the world of trading, this audiobook is a captivating insight into one of the least understood factors of all our lives. In an entertaining narrative style, the author succeeds in tackling three major intellectual issues: the problem of induction, the survivorship biases, and our genetic unfitness to the modern word. Taleb uses stories and anecdotes to illustrate our overestimation of causality and the heuristics that make us view the world as far more explainable than it actually is.
The audiobook is populated with an array of characters, some of whom have grasped, in their own way, the significance of chance: Yogi Berra, the baseball legend; Karl Popper, the philosopher of knowledge; Solon, the ancient world's wisest man; the modern financier George Soros; and the Greek voyager Ulysses. We also meet the fictional Nero, who seems to understand the role of randomness in his professional life, but who also falls victim to his own superstitious foolishness.
But the most recognizable character remains unnamed, the lucky fool in the right place at the right time - the embodiment of the "Survival of the Least Fit". Such individuals attract devoted followers who believe in their guru's insights and methods. But no one can replicate what is obtained through chance.
It may be impossible to guard against the vagaries of the Goddess Fortuna, but after listening to Fooled by Randomness we can be a little better prepared.
©2004 Nassim Nicholas Taleb (P)2008 Gildan Media CorpListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"An articulate, wise, and humorous meditation on the nature of success and failure that anyone who wants a little more of the former would do well to consider." (Amazon.com)
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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
This is not only entertaining, but enlightening because it illustrates with easily understandable examples, how randomness affects all of us whether we realize it or not. By applying the principles to our own lives, we may be able to understand our behavior and behavior of others better while giving us an advantage over others who do not understand these things. The author is clever in using illustrations to depict some complex statistical ideas and he does so in a very practical and understandable way that even non-math people can understand.This is not a dry mathematical book but a very enjoyable read/listen. I kept coming back to it again and again just like any good book that keeps you going until it is finished. I enjoyed The Black Swan and this book is no disappointment - definitely recommend.
If you could give Fooled by Randomness a new subtitle, what would it be?
Things you might not realize were randomness and how you deal with it in your life.very entertaining and eye opening
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Good Intro to The Black Swan
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? is it hard to sort out cause and effect and true meaning
? does it seem, you just can't connect the dots the way you'd like to
nassim taleb (NT) has written an arrogant and insightful book for you
he elegantly teases out the increasing role of randomness in our lives
but his smug style, makes the truth of his message a bit hard to swallow
most human beings aren't hard wired for dispassionate observation
we bring with us prejudices, fears, doubts and a healthy dose of ignorance
it's hard for us to tell the difference between "co-incident" and "caused"
NT repeatedly relates the story of his many successes on wall street
his ability to not "be fooled" has made him a gifted stock picker
but making rich men richer wasn't enough for him, so he wrote this book
the cognitive strain of insightful thinking may simply be beyond some people
they're content to take what they're given and not sift it out too much
but if you'd like to see through the BS, clutter and noise NT would like to help
arrogance / science / insight
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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
YesWould you ever listen to anything by Nassim Nicholas Taleb again?
YesWhat three words best describe Sean Pratt’s voice?
clear, easy to understandWho do you think would benefit most from listening to Fooled by Randomness?
Almost anyone but only if the title intreags youAny additional comments?
Taleb's style is a bit off the wall, I liked it but it is not for everyoneVery Good but not for everyone
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The pacing of the reader was poor with random gaps throughout leading me to check if my headphones had gotten disconnected several times.
interesting book as an introduction biases.
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In this book the author starts out in the introduction by saying he tried to write this book without external sources. Do with that what you will.
Some good points by an insufferable person
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smarty pants
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Great book, problems with the audio
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I especially enjoyed the author's expert treatment of social science concepts in a business context. Heartily Recommended.
Deep Thoughts with a Light Touch
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Genius
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