The Calm Before the Storm Audiobook By Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Gregory F. Treverton cover art

The Calm Before the Storm

Why Volatility Signals Stability and Vice Versa

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The Calm Before the Storm

By: Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Gregory F. Treverton
Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
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Instead of trying to predict "Black Swan" events such as coups or crises, forecasters should look at how political systems handle disorder. The best indicator of a country's future trajectory is not a lengthy past stability, but recent moderate volatility.

©2015 Foreign Affairs (P)2015 Audible, Inc. History & Theory Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences Capitalism
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If you are widely read in Taleb's work, there are few surprises here. I pretty avidly snap up whatever he writes, but I had seen such things as his praise of city-states elsewhere. There seems a slight advance in his mapping of fragilities on a wider scale, compared with his prior works.

Fine Taleb, but repeats some themes in other books

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I loved it. Very well explained. Nassim at his best with risk on a global scale

Great

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5 of 5 stars.

I'll start by saying I'm a big admirer of Nassim Taleb and absorbing his writings can lead to a paradigm shift in one's thinking. Taleb's counter-intuitive thinking is outlined in this absorbing essay covering the markers for determining whether a nation state is fragile or robust. Centralized states and authority are more susceptible to collapse or revolution while countries with diverse political systems and distributed authority are much more resilient to shocks and volatility. Taleb has a knack for conveying complex concepts in an enjoyable and accessible manner.

The narrator is excellent for the material.

Succinct primer on the stability of nation states

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Enjoyed very much the claim that centralization serves to create less bumps in the road, while unfortunately also serving to make the fewer bumps far more extreme than would otherwise be. Also, a country that creates neighbors versus roommates will better serve society and all people groups.

Short but very worthwhile

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Loved it. It gives practical perspective in terms of anti fragility. Gave me hope for the future, in particular Lebanon. Nassim Taleb rocks!

Susinct, ensightful and enlightening

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Taleb again pointing the economy's wounds. Hopefully authorities will listen and act. Please five this material to authorities.

Very good

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too brief to be true..
And most importantly,Taleb seems to forget to add the 'main element' to the equation of antifragility....
which is also the centeral idea of 'fololed by randomness':
The luck.
Aut of domain dependance I guess...

needs to be improved

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I am 62 years old and find amazing wonder in listening how these two author's address the world outside the box. They awaken my beginners mind. Truly exciting! Engaging!

Extremely Refreshing

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Would you listen to The Calm Before the Storm again? Why?

no. got it all in the first listening.

What does Kevin Stillwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I can do other things while listening i.e. the ironing ;)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, it is only 30min

Plausible theories as to why some regimes fail

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