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Comment by jor-el | Hacker News Reader

Thinking, fast and slow - by Daniel Kahneman

It is a great book and talks about two systems in which we can divide the working of our brain. Kahneman also talks exposes the extraordinary capabilities—and also the faults and biases—of fast thinking, and reveals the pervasive influence of intuitive impressions on our thoughts and behavior.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-a...

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Others already wrote that lots of the studies this book is based on have been called into question, here's a summary: https://replicationindex.com/2017/02/02/reconstruction-of-a-...

Please note also that Kahneman himself left a comment there stating: "I accept the basic conclusions of this blog."

Yeah. Kahneman himself didn't do to badly in the replication crisis but a lot of the research that was used in his book did. It would be great if he could release a new, shorter edition or something.

The book contains much more than priming though, doesn't it?

I only listened to a few chapters and lost interest.

Kahneman, like any scientist, can only really present our best thinking at the time of writing. It's not like anything he wrote about was conjecture or pseudoscience. There are studies to back everything he wrote about. In most cases, there was and still is ample evidence. Some are now considered questionable after contrary evidence was found. None have really been "disproven" but are much less certain. And I don't think he presented any of it with an air of mathematically certainty. Still a great book.

It is important to separate wrong results from the person who does or publishes them. There's always chance that some research fails to reproduce. Proper controls and methodology reduce it, but it's still there. Especially in fields where the science just begins to understand the basics and where the matters are as complex and diverse as human behavior. We shouldn't be afraid to question the conclusions if they don't reproduce because it might imply that it was "conjecture or pseudoscience". Sometimes it is, but often it isn't - it's just this particular theory proven to be not true. Happens all the time to the very best of scientists.

It is worth noting that a lot of the psychological studies that this book references have failed to reproduce. I don't have a list on me (and haven't read the book!), but I know that there was more than one.

Likely still worth reading, for at least forcing the reader to introspect on processes that will help them think better, and solve problems better.

Note however: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow#Replic...

If I had to choose one book to save from 451, I'd definitely choose this one. Also rereading it is very rewarding experience, I've read it at least 12 times.

Is not in Audible and that's killing me!

Living in Ireland you have to use .uk and they don't have many books.

This is a great book. It have me a lot to think about and sincerely improved my decision making skills.

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