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Think for Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence Hardcover – June 16, 2020

by Vikram Mansharamani (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 101 ratings
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We've outsourced too much of our thinking. How do we get it back?

Have you ever followed your GPS device to a deserted parking lot? Or unquestioningly followed the advice of an expert—perhaps a doctor or financial adviser—only to learn later that your own thoughts and doubts were correct? And what about the stories we've all heard over the years about sick patients—whether infected with Ebola or COVID-19—who were sent home or allowed to travel because busy staff people were following a protocol to the letter rather than using common sense? Why and how do these kinds of things happen?

As Harvard lecturer and global trend watcher Vikram Mansharamani shows in this eye-opening and perspective-shifting book, our complex, data-flooded world has made us ever more reliant on experts, protocols, and technology. Too often, we've stopped thinking for ourselves. With stark and compelling examples drawn from business, sports, and everyday life, Mansharamani illustrates how in a very real sense we have outsourced our thinking to a troubling degree, relinquishing our autonomy.

Of course, experts, protocols, and computer-based systems are essential to helping us make informed decisions. What we need is a new approach for integrating these information sources more effectively, harnessing the value they provide without undermining our ability to think for ourselves. The author provides principles and techniques for doing just that, empowering readers with a more critical and nuanced approach to making decisions.

Think for Yourself is an indispensable guide for those looking to restore self-reliant thinking in a data-driven and technology-dependent yet overwhelmingly uncertain world.

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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harvard Business Review Press
  4. Publication date
    June 16, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    6.3 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1633699218
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1633699212
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

From the Publisher

Think for Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence

thought process, self-reliant, experts, artificial intelligence, technology, thinking, common sense

Editorial Reviews

Review

Named a "Best Leadership Book of 2020" by Leadership Now

Advance Praise for Think for Yourself:

"Of course we need experts and technology systems to aid our choices. But with today's flood of data and cacophony of expert voices, it's easy to lose our autonomy of thinking. Vikram Mansharamani wisely shows us how to benefit from expertise and still think for ourselves." — Gen. Lori J. Robinson, US Air Force, Ret.; former Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and US Northern Command

"Mansharamani's ideas on critical thinking and devil's advocacy have been invaluable to me and my board as we have contemplated momentous decisions around how to transform from a sprawling conglomerate into a focused aerospace and defense company. This book is a must-read in our data-flooded, distracted age." — Greg Hayes, Chairman and CEO, Raytheon Technologies

"In this age of information overload, with experts beckoning on every corner, Vikram Mansharamani provides an excellent framework for reclaiming ownership of our decisions. This wise book will help you inject a dose of common sense into your thought process." — Brian C. Rogers, former Chairman, T. Rowe Price Group

"With so many specialists and experts directing our thoughts, we need Mansharamani's book to give us the tools to reclaim control and think for ourselves. A must-read for patients, practitioners, and policy makers alike." — Mark Hyman, MD, Head of Strategy and Innovation, Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine

"Mansharamani opens our eyes to why, when, and how we should think for ourselves and trust our own instincts. I highly recommend this informative and entertaining book to anyone facing difficult decisions." — Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, former CEO, Golden Ocean Group Limited

"While niche expertise certainly has its place in any industry, the world is getting too complicated for organizations and individuals to lose sight of the big picture or to get trapped in tunnel vision. This book carries an important message about keeping context in our periphery and our bias in check." — Bruce Grewcock, Chairman, Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc.

"Vikram Mansharamani provides readers with a guidebook on critical thinking, individuality, and the benefits and risks of focus. Think for Yourself will challenge every reader to think outside his or her normal mindset and become a better citizen of the world." — Kevin Warren, Commissioner, Big Ten Conference

About the Author

Vikram Mansharamani is a lecturer at Harvard University and the author of Boombustology: Spotting Financial Bubbles Before They Burst. His ideas and writings have appeared in Fortune, Forbes, the New York Times, and many other publications. Mansharamani also advises several Fortune 500 CEOs and their boards on how to navigate uncertainty in today's dynamic global business and regulatory environment. He holds a PhD and two master's degrees from MIT as well as a bachelor's degree from Yale University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

You can find Vikram Mansharamani at:
mansharamani.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/mansharamani?lang=en
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vikrammansharamani/

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harvard Business Review Press (June 16, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1633699218
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1633699212
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

About the author

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Vikram Mansharamani

Vikram Mansharamani

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Vikram Mansharamani, PhD

Author, The Making of a Generalist: An Independent Thinker Finds Unconventional Success in an Uncertain World.

Author, THINK FOR YOURSELF: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence.

Author, Boombustology: Spotting Financial Bubbles Before They Burst.

Vikram Mansharamani is an entrepreneur, consultant, scholar, neighbor, husband, father, volunteer, and professional generalist who thinks in multiple-dimensions and looks beyond the short-term. Self-taught to think around corners and connect original dots, he spends his time speaking with global leaders in business, government, academia, and journalism. LinkedIn has twice listed him as its #1 Top Voice in Money & Finance, and Worth profiled him as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Finance. Vikram earned a PhD From MIT, has taught at Yale and Harvard, and is the author of two books, Think for Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence and Boombustology: Spotting Financial Bubbles Before They Burst. Vikram lives in Lincoln, New Hampshire with his wife and two children, where they can usually be found hiking or skiing.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
101 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Deepak Madhav
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, informative, worth every penny!
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Reading “Think for yourself” makes you feel like you are at a dinner party having an amazing mind-stimulating conversation with Dr. Mansharamani.
The short, real life stories are humorous, engaging, and help one broaden his/her knowledge. I am a health care provider, and I completely agree with the author’s perspective. I often recommend that patients ask their providers questions to help them make informed decisions. And I LOVE the phrase “Keep experts on tap, not on top” (it's the title of a chapter). This book inspires you to take charge of your own destiny!
His non-conformist, “think for yourself” approach is refreshing. It’s hard to put this book down. Great reading; I recommend for all ages, teams, and leadership roles! Worth every penny.
7 people found this helpful
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Donald A. Newell Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Good value
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2021
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Good to know that thinking is not out of style
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Hot Pompus Garbage
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2021
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This book uses statistical anomolies and the advantage of hindsight to make the low-hanging-fruit argument that experts are wrong sometimes. In the era of "Fake News" it's hard to buy that the general population cares too much about the opinions of experts, and the examples in this book are so inconsistent with the distinction between expert and generalist that it fails to make a compelling case. That being said, the main reason this book gets one star instead of two (for the effort) is that reading it forced me to participate in this guy's ego trip. You can't read five pages without the author bragging about what schools he went to, what he and his wife do for a living, or how rich and successful they are. It's nauseating.
14 people found this helpful
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ServantofGod
5.0 out of 5 stars Great food for thought. Helpful. Readable.
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2023
The pros of this book are:-

1. Intelligent anecdotes including the “Invisible Gorilla”, Fukushima Nuclear Plant Catastrophe, Sherlock Holmes’ “Silver Blaze”, Phil Jackson’s coaching of Chicago Bulls, the side effect of statin in reducing Cholesterol and Prostrate cancer test, the movie “Sully”, the response of Esko Aho former Finland PM on hearing from his adviser about “shots were being fired in Moscow” at 2am and so on.
2. Smart questions in the end of several chapters, including:-
- What’s your goal? Do the actions you’re taking or the decisions you’re making make that objective more or less likely
- Are you thinking about problems broadly enough? Have you defined the problem correctly?
- How might your decision lead to a massive failure in the future?
- What are the assumptions behind the expert’s advice?
- What if I do nothing?

For cons, minimal. In short, highly recommended.

p.s. Below please find some favorite passages of mine fyi.
Given the deluge of data, explosion in choice, and the now constant fear of missing out on the perfect decision, it is not surprising that we have run into the arms of experts, technology and protocols. There’s comfort in outsourcing our thinking and the belief (hope?) that those who know will guide us toward optimal choices. Pg51
Systems thinking opens the door to understanding how interactions among parts changes our analysis of the whole, often leading to counterintuitive and surprising insights.
A premortem may be the best way to circumvent the need for a painful postmortem. Pg171
Successful leaders have a great metaknowledge. Pg175
When navigating uncertainty, it’s best to think in terms of multiple possible futures. Pg215
We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely. The future, it seems, belongs to those who think for themselves. Pg249
2 people found this helpful
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Greg
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book! You will learn to think for yourself
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2020
Looking at the overall scheme of things I ponder while reading, I am thankful for the ideas shared by Dr. Vikram Mansharamani in this book. It is not easy for me nowadays to pause and question what our experts are telling the world. My default assumption is that our experts knew their domain well and already considered things through from multiple lenses before providing advice. While it maybe true for the first one, it is not necessarily so for the second.

In this book Vikram discusses how many experts are living inside the bubble of their specializations and failing to consider other aspects of certain situations, thereby resulting to unintended consequences like death.

My journey in this book was not easy only because I kept on stopping every now and then to debate and ask question why Vikram said this and that. Eventually my questions were answered as I went through all the chapters. I guess thinking for oneself is a great mental workout.

I also appreciate the way less formal style of writing as well as the funny punch lines from time to time (drum roll please..)

Of course not all readers will agree with the premises (or maybe the conclusions) written this book. But if you read this book, finish it until the end. You may not agree but at least you are thinking for yourself. This book somehow feels like a novel, you’ll get to understand its essence once you read the whole.
9 people found this helpful
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Mark Bayer
5.0 out of 5 stars Applicable to everyday living, especially right now
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2020
This book delivers practicable and valuable insights you can put to use right away, and it delivers them in an entertaining way with relatable examples. After reading a portion of the book earlier this week, I took my dog out for a walk. When I heard thunder half way through the walk, I checked the weather app, which indicated "no rain for 117 minutes". But I felt raindrops and didn't have an umbrella. What should I do - obey the app or head home to avoid a potential downpour? I picked up our pooch and zipped home before the rain increased. Thank you, Vikram Mansharamani, for an excellent book - and for ensuring I didn't get soaked in a rainstorm!
3 people found this helpful
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Annarella
5.0 out of 5 stars Strongly recommended
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2020
It's a well written book that makes you reflect and question yourself.
I loved it and I think it's a useful and interesting read.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anyone who is faced with a difficult decision.
Reviewed in Canada on December 23, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is one of the “must-reads”. The message is simple: in a society where specializatio I Is becoming increasing common due to the the exponential increase in data and knowledge, it is essential for us to keep our eyes on the big picture. Specialists tend to focus on the small part of the spectrum that is their speciality, and commonly come to conclusions that don’t make sense if the bigger picture is considered. The author provides a large set of examples to illustrate his thesis. Most of these are excellent, but some aren’t.
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Fabio Adiron
5.0 out of 5 stars Imperdível
Reviewed in Brazil on October 30, 2020
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Leitura imperdível para entender melhor o comportament atual das pessoas
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Ana
2.0 out of 5 stars Don’t purchase, avoid avoid.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
I’ve watched many Mansharamani videos and he speaks eloquently and draws you in, but I never expected his book to be so awfully boring to read. Seriously. I was super disappointed in the lack of interesting content and I’ve learnt pretty much nothing besides “don’t trust everything your doctor says”. If you are interested in what the author has to say, just listen to his interviews and do not buy this book. You’re welcome.
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Ana
2.0 out of 5 stars Don’t purchase, avoid avoid.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2021
I’ve watched many Mansharamani videos and he speaks eloquently and draws you in, but I never expected his book to be so awfully boring to read. Seriously. I was super disappointed in the lack of interesting content and I’ve learnt pretty much nothing besides “don’t trust everything your doctor says”. If you are interested in what the author has to say, just listen to his interviews and do not buy this book. You’re welcome.
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Dominik
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in Germany on September 9, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great read, perfect for the time we live in! Worth every penny! Especially if you watched all the webinars, thanks again for sharing so much wisdom 🙏
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Sabyasachi
4.0 out of 5 stars Apt for the time we live in
Reviewed in India on August 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is a book which takes a somehow contrarian view about experts and expertise and reinforces the need to bring context into the equation.

It also puts the onus back on us the person who is taking the advise from the so called experts to evaluate their own life, circumstances and unique attributes and then evaluate whether the expert advise applies to them or not.

A good book to read and get yourself a different view on what’s happening in today’s world and how we can overcome being made a bystander in our own life’s decisions.
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