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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
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis
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
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“A small number of Black Swans explain almost everything in our world”
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“If you want to see what I mean by the arbitrariness of categories, check the situation of polarized politics. The next time a Martian visits earth, try to explain to him why those who favor allowing the elimination of a fetus in the mother's womb also oppose capital punishment. Or try to explain to him why those who accept abortion are supposed to be favorable to high taxation but against a strong military. Why do those who prefer sexual freedom need to be against individual economic liberty? p. 16”
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“The problem here with the universe and the human race is that we are the surviving Casanovas”
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“You do not look for something particular every morning but work hard to let contingency enter your working life”
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“I am most often irritated by those who attack the bishop but somehow fall for the securities analyst - those who exercise their skepticism against religion but not against economists, social scientists, and phony statisticians. p. 291”
First Sentence
This is not an autobiography, so I will skip the scenes of war.
Table of Contents
Authors & Contributors
- Nassim Taleb (Author)
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