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Description

A black swan is a highly improbable event with three principal characteristics: It is unpredictable; it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear less random, and more predictable, than it was. The astonishing success of Google was a black... read more

Summary

Highly improbable and unpredictable events are the main drivers of change in society and as such forming predictions of future events or developing explanations for past events is futile. If you go around using the words “will” or “because” you’re a very silly boy.

Memorable Quotes

  • “A small number of Black Swans explain almost everything in our world”
  • “The problem here with the universe and the human race is that we are the surviving Casanovas”
  • “You do not look for something particular every morning but work hard to let contingency enter your working life”

First Sentence

This is not an autobiography, so I will skip the scenes of war.

Authors & Contributors

  1. Nassim Taleb (Author)
 

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