Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts

Thinking in Bets

Annie Duke

Cover of Thinking in Bets
Thinking in Bets
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Psychology#decisions#uncertainty

Thinking in Bets

Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts

Written byAnnie Duke

Former poker champion Annie Duke shows that life is more like poker than chess: you never have all the facts, and luck plays a part. She teaches how to judge decisions by how they were made, not just by how they turned out.

  • Published2018
  • GenrePsychology
  • Key ideas5
  • Summary1 min read

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  1. 01Don't judge a decision by its result

    Good decisions can turn out badly and bad ones can get lucky. Duke calls the mistake of mixing them up “resulting”.

  2. 02Every decision is a bet

    When you choose, you're betting on one possible future. Thinking this way makes you more honest about uncertainty.

  3. 03Ask “How sure am I?”

    Put a rough confidence level on your beliefs. It makes it easier to change your mind when new facts arrive.

  4. 04Find a truth-seeking group

    Surround yourself with people who will question your thinking kindly and honestly.

  5. 05Talk to your future self

    Before deciding, imagine how you'll feel about the choice in ten minutes, ten months and ten years.

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Don't judge a decision by its result

Good decisions can turn out badly and bad ones can get lucky. Duke calls the mistake of mixing them up “resulting”. Pick one small way to put this into practice before tonight.

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