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The Great Mental Models Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts Hardcover – December 1, 2018


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THE MUCH ANTICIPATED FIRST INSTALLMENT IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLING SERIES ‘THE GREAT MENTAL MODELS’.


Solve problems. Think with clarity. Achieve your goals.

The secret to better decision-making is learning things that won’t change. Mastering a small number of versatile concepts with broad applicability enables you to rapidly grasp new areas, identify patterns, and understand how the world works. Don’t waste your time on knowledge with an expiry date - focus on the fundamentals.

The Farnam Street latticework of mental models gives you the durable cognitive tools you need to avoid problems and make better decisions.

A mental model is a representation of how something works. Constructing mental models helps you to navigate the world efficiently and intelligently. Time and time again, great thinkers such as Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett have found mental models indispensable in both solving problems and preventing them in the first place. Cultivating stronger mental models is one of the most powerful things you can do to become a better thinker. 



The Great Mental Models: Volume 1 covers essential general thinking models.

Formal education doesn’t prepare you to make decisions in the real world. This volume details nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mental models they didn’t teach you in school which you can use right away to improve how clearly you understand the world. Discover the forces governing the universe and how to focus your efforts so you can harness them to your advantage, rather than fight them or worse yet— ignore them. 

Volume 1 will teach you how to:


  • Eliminate blind spots by learning to distinguish between maps and territory
  • Increase your chances of success in any endeavor by staying within your circle of competence
  • Unleash creative ability and navigate complex situations with ease through first principles thinking
  • Expand your conception of what’s possible by carrying out thought experiments
  • See opportunities others miss using second-order thinking
  • Improve the accuracy of your decisions with probabilistic thinking
  • Invert problems to avoid disaster 
  • Leverage Occam’s razor to bypass unnecessary complexity

    And so much more...


    Mastering The Great Mental Models helps you thrive in an uncertain world. The right cognitive tools prepare you for any type of challenge. From parenting to healthy eating, relationships to personal productivity, and from learning to product design, this book will give you new lenses for understanding life.


    A wonderful resource you’ll keep returning to year after year. As you incorporate the models in this book into your mental toolbox, you’ll see the world with fresh eyes.


    START BUILDING YOUR LATTICEWORK TODAY!


    Praise for The Great Mental Models series:

    “I’m really glad this exists in the world and I can see that I will be recommending it often.”

    — Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, founder and CEO of Automattic


    “If you’ve read Charlie Munger’s Almanack this is the book you deeply crave in its wake. … Learn the big ideas from the big disciplines and you’ll be able to twist and turn problems in interesting ways at unprecedented speeds. … You owe yourself this book.”

    — Simon Eskildsen


    “This is what non-fiction books should aspire to be like. Informative, concise, universal, practical, visual, sharing stories and examples for context. Definitely, a must-read if you’re into universal multi-disciplinary thinking.”

    — Carl Rannaberg


    “I can truly say it is one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting lost in. I loved the book and the challenges to conventional wisdom and thinking it presents.”

    — Rod Berryman


    “Want to learn? Read This! This should be a standard text for high school and university students.”

    — Code Cubitt


    The Amazon Book Review
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    Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

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    Editorial Reviews

    Review

    ''I'm really glad this exists in the world and I can see that I will be recommending it often.'' --Matt Mullenweg, founder and CEO of Automattic

    From the Back Cover

    "I'm really glad this exists in the world and I can see that I will be recommending it often." — Matt Mullenweg, founder and CEO of Automattic

    Product details

    • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Latticework Publishing Inc. (December 1, 2018)
    • Language ‏ : ‎ English
    • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 190 pages
    • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1999449002
    • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1999449001
    • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
    • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 0.75 x 9.5 inches
    • Customer Reviews:

    About the authors

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    Customer reviews

    4.4 out of 5 stars
    3,973 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers find the book an excellent overview of mental frameworks that all leaders should be familiar with. They also describe the reading experience as good and the book as very useful. Opinions are mixed on readability, with some finding it concise and specific, while others say it's poorly written and difficult to grasp.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    54 customers mention "Content"41 positive13 negative

    Customers find the book an excellent overview of mental frameworks that all leaders should be familiar with. They also like the examples and explanations of the models. Readers say the book is a quick read and straight to the point. They say it provides great reminders and a perfect balance of anecdotes from history to showcase the mental models presented.

    "The book is great and it is worth pondering every single mental model he describes...." Read more

    "This book is an easy read and contains very intelligent thoughts, explanations and guidance...." Read more

    "A fun read with a perfect balance of anecdotes from history to showcase the mental models presented. Short and easy read...." Read more

    "I liked this book a lot, it gave me some great reminders and some new reminders to reflect on...." Read more

    29 customers mention "Reading experience"29 positive0 negative

    Customers find the book a good read with short and concise chapters. They also appreciate the fun and good advice.

    "The book is great and it is worth pondering every single mental model he describes...." Read more

    "If you are interested in patterns, this is a great book." Read more

    "A fun read with a perfect balance of anecdotes from history to showcase the mental models presented. Short and easy read...." Read more

    "...Unless you are an expert, it’s worth reading and keeping it handy. Where it could have been better is mostly when Shane writes examples...." Read more

    12 customers mention "Practicality"10 positive2 negative

    Customers find the book very useful and good stuff.

    "...This is the most accessible of the three books and very useful...." Read more

    "I have a number of books on mental models and find this the most valuable, interesting to read, and love the history and examples...." Read more

    "Straightforward and valuable in presenting the first round of mental models. Good examples to illustrate. Will be most useful with repeated readings." Read more

    "...Excellent and very much needed written work on how to apply mental models to thinking about and solving life’s problems as quickly as possible..." Read more

    15 customers mention "Readability"8 positive7 negative

    Customers have mixed opinions about the readability of the book. Some find it concisely written, while others say it's poorly written, hard to understand, and too simple.

    "This book is an easy read and contains very intelligent thoughts, explanations and guidance...." Read more

    "...and causation chapter is not average person-friendly, and is hard to understand.but it could be improved from a math perspective." Read more

    "...Short and easy read. Will continue with the other volumes." Read more

    "...But the execution is simplistic, the text is short and the content reads like a short story, amidst a recommendation brochure...." Read more

    Cover bound upside down.
    5 out of 5 stars
    Cover bound upside down.
    The content is great but my book came with the cover bound upside down. It's a tough sell to gift a book on problem sol ing models packaged this way. Please let me know when this is corrected so that I can order it as a gift.
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    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2022
    The book is great and it is worth pondering every single mental model he describes. You may already know some of them or even all of them but having it described and discussed before you sheds some lights on aspects of the model you may have ignored in your use of it. I was deeply enlightened by many of the book’s discussions. The use of stories of great men and women is well crafted in almost all discussions.

    The only complaint I have is the naturalistic viewpoint that is preached in some parts of the book. I believe the author fails to apply the very thing he’s advocating for when he does that: a rational analysis of what is said. Take the Sagan example and do it by yourself, he throws one phrase from a scientist in the air as if the phrase was a scientific argument, which is clearly not. Note that the phrase in question is so damaging that it has been used many times to discredit important recent scientific discoveries.

    Anyways, my 2 cents: focus on what the author do best and forget about his wandering into metaphysics.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
    If you are interested in patterns, this is a great book.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2023
    This book is an easy read and contains very intelligent thoughts, explanations and guidance. I had a preconceived notion that this would be a long, boring read and that I wouldn’t finish it (typical for me). I was very wrong. I highly recommend it.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
    Whether it be your everyday problems, or how politicians, inventors, scientists, artists, leaders solve a variety of problems, this book lights the way. Your mind sees with new eyes after reading it.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2022
    While some part of the content in this book is insightful and might be practical.

    But from my perspective, 40% of its content is redundant and could be simplified.

    The introduction chapter is redundant and hard for people to understand what is the focus.

    The correlation and causation chapter is not average person-friendly, and is hard to understand.

    but it could be improved from a math perspective.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2023
    A fun read with a perfect balance of anecdotes from history to showcase the mental models presented. Short and easy read. Will continue with the other volumes.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2023
    I liked this book a lot, it gave me some great reminders and some new reminders to reflect on. The probability chapter was my favorite, I tend to nerd out and think there has to be an accurate numerical way to represent reality, but it’s never completely true.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2022
    This is in the top ten books I’ve read. I’m planning to buy several of these to gift to close friends. If you’re intrigued by the notion of thinking better—more effectively, more decisively, more confidently—this book is an accessible treasure trove of practical information. If you’ve ever read Robert Greene and enjoyed it, this is written in a similar style without the diabolical tone and effect. Further, the design of it and reasonable price makes it an all around win. Just love it. Highly recommended! — from a guy who has a personal library of over a thousand books and reluctantly tells people I like to read when they ask what I do for fun.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report

    Top reviews from other countries

    Carlos Henrique Rueckert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perspectivas diferentes para resolver problemas.
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 20, 2024
    The Great Mental Models vol1 - Modelos mentais explicados para serem usados para solucionar problemas. Como se fossem óculos diferentes para enxergar de maneiras diferentes.

    - O mapa não é o território: embora úteis para conhecer, não é possível descrever a realidade com leis absolutas, use os mapas ao seu favor mas entenda suas limitações
    - Circulo de competência: entenda que você não sabe de tudo, não deixe seu ego interferir decisões. Aprenda, use e veja o resultado, use feedback alheio para melhorar.
    - Ponderamento através de princípios: foque em entender os conceitos e não a estratégia detalhada, entendendo o fundamento você monta a própria estratégia e consegue ver erros nas vigentes
    - Imaginação das possibilidades: faça perguntas para compreender conceitos e coisas, imagine possibilidades fora do normal para entender até onde aquela coisa chega, como ela funciona em determinada situação.
    - Imaginação das consequências: pense no resultado que a sua decisão irá causar, muitas vezes uma decisão ruim agora é a melhor para o longo prazo, as vezes uma ação boa agora acarretará em ruína no futuro.
    - Pensamento probabilístico: use matemática e lógica para estimar chances e ter uma perspectiva melhor do problema, bote as opções lado a lado antes de ponderar.
    - Inversão: ao invés de começar pelo inicio, comece pelo final. Pergunte-se o que precisaria acontecer para esse resultado ser real. Alternadamente, com um objetivo em mente, ao invés do melhor caminho, procure evitar os piores. -
    - Occams razor: a explicação mais simples geralmente é a correta.
    - Hanlons razor: As pessoas que te causam mal não fazem por vilãnia, fazem por ignorância, estupidez ou preguiça. Não leve para o pessoal.
    Customer image
    Carlos Henrique Rueckert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perspectivas diferentes para resolver problemas.
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 20, 2024
    The Great Mental Models vol1 - Modelos mentais explicados para serem usados para solucionar problemas. Como se fossem óculos diferentes para enxergar de maneiras diferentes.

    - O mapa não é o território: embora úteis para conhecer, não é possível descrever a realidade com leis absolutas, use os mapas ao seu favor mas entenda suas limitações
    - Circulo de competência: entenda que você não sabe de tudo, não deixe seu ego interferir decisões. Aprenda, use e veja o resultado, use feedback alheio para melhorar.
    - Ponderamento através de princípios: foque em entender os conceitos e não a estratégia detalhada, entendendo o fundamento você monta a própria estratégia e consegue ver erros nas vigentes
    - Imaginação das possibilidades: faça perguntas para compreender conceitos e coisas, imagine possibilidades fora do normal para entender até onde aquela coisa chega, como ela funciona em determinada situação.
    - Imaginação das consequências: pense no resultado que a sua decisão irá causar, muitas vezes uma decisão ruim agora é a melhor para o longo prazo, as vezes uma ação boa agora acarretará em ruína no futuro.
    - Pensamento probabilístico: use matemática e lógica para estimar chances e ter uma perspectiva melhor do problema, bote as opções lado a lado antes de ponderar.
    - Inversão: ao invés de começar pelo inicio, comece pelo final. Pergunte-se o que precisaria acontecer para esse resultado ser real. Alternadamente, com um objetivo em mente, ao invés do melhor caminho, procure evitar os piores. -
    - Occams razor: a explicação mais simples geralmente é a correta.
    - Hanlons razor: As pessoas que te causam mal não fazem por vilãnia, fazem por ignorância, estupidez ou preguiça. Não leve para o pessoal.
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    Odessa Champs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 14, 2021
    Soy de la misma idea que los autores del libro: si no conocemos los fundamentos del mundo y nuestros modelos de pensamiento, no vamos a llegar muy lejos. Bastante disfrutable y con una estética muy sugerente. Lo recomiendo ampliamente.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
    Bernd Karlovits
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, concise, right to the point
    Reviewed in Germany on May 20, 2024
    Best ever read book on this topic. The provided knowledge is scientifically proven and delivered in an effortless easy way. A pleasure to read it.
    MuYiMing
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mental Tools You Can Apply in Multiple Ways
    Reviewed in Canada on May 15, 2021
    I should admit first that I'm a huge fan of the Farnam Street blog and Shane Parrish's Knowledge Project. This book gives you essential thinking tools you can use a multiple situations to approach problems, opportunities and decisions with clarity and confidence. Recommended.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
    Cho Du
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's a good book, but a bit overpriced
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2023
    Good book, but a bit overpriced. Same information can be obtained from various blogs. But it's nice to have it as a hardcopy.
    One person found this helpful
    Report