Who can you ask for book recommendations on decision making? In Re:Think About Decision Making, I asked a crowd that a former Ivy League professor called “the best public crowd he’s ever seen” what they would recommend reading. These people are paid to make decisions for a living, and they want to find every advantage they can.
So when I asked them which decision-making books influenced them, you can bet they had a lot to say.
You are reading: Best decision making books
here is the list in no particular order:
1. decisive: how to make better decisions in life and work
by: chip & dan heath
Research has shown time and time again how irrational we humans are in our thinking. we are too confident. we look for information that supports us and minimize information that does not. we get distracted by short-term emotions. when it comes to making decisions, it seems that our brains are faulty instruments. Unfortunately, the simple fact of being aware of these deficiencies does not solve the problem, nor does it help us to see that we are myopic.
Well-researched and well-written, this book offers a 4-step process to help overcome our natural biases and make better decisions. For one thing, if you’ve read Switch or Made to Stick, you know how fun and easy it is to read a Heath Brothers book. this one is no different.
2. how to measure anything
by: douglas hubbard
Peter Drucker famously said, “what gets measured gets managed.” but how do you measure things as nebulous as customer satisfaction, organizational flexibility, or return on investment from technology?
Written by renowned expert Douglas Hubbard, creator of applied information economics, How to Measure Anything illustrates how the author has used his approach in various industries and how any problem, no matter how difficult, ill-defined, or uncertain, can lend itself to measurement (and therefore improvement) using proven methods.
3. how to make sense of any mess: information architecture for all
by: undercover abby
according to the author, each “mess” has a similar structure. Whether we’re dealing with a crisis at work or home, finding ourselves in a mess with other people, or trying to make sense of the flood of information around us, this book offers a 7-step process for making sense of it. . everybody. no mess is too big once you know how to approach it properly.
4. wiser: going beyond groupthink to make groups smarter
by: cass sunstein & reid hurry up
If you work with groups of people in any way, this is a great read with lots of helpful nuggets. We tend to assume that a group of brilliant minds working together to solve a problem would produce the best result, but research has shown that this is not always the case. in fact, we tend to sabotage our own results by giving more weight to positions expressed first, shared more strongly, or held in common with the rest of the group. smarter, you’ll not only learn how to avoid the pitfalls that plague so many meetings today, but also how to bring out the best in participants, so that their collective decision-making is more effective, more productive, and a better investment of time. .
5. the amazing power of liberating structures: simple rules to unleash a culture of innovation
by: henri lipmanowicz & keith mccandless
Whether you’re a teacher, a manager, a parent, or a leader in some way, you know how frustrating it can be when the people you’re trying to lead aren’t fully engaged. it’s bad for the organization, it’s bad for productivity, and frankly, it’s bad for the individual. the amazing power of liberating structures explores practical methods to help people engage and invest in what they are doing, and feel personal satisfaction doing it.
6. gamestorming: a playbook for innovators, rule breakers and change makers
by: dave grey, sunni brown & james macanufo
If your work environment isn’t one where employees feel safe to share their ideas and freely interact with each other, you can’t expect to accomplish anything meaningful. you will always be moving at less than your full capacity. That’s where this book comes in. offers over 80 games specifically designed to break down barriers, encourage communication, and get creativity flowing.
7. the straight mind: why good people are divided by politics and religion
by: jonathan haidt
Do you think you’re absolutely right about the hot political, social or religious debate of the day? Before you argue with your brother-in-law over Thanksgiving dinner, be sure to read this book. Jonathan Haidt does a masterful job of showing that the other side isn’t as crazy as we think, and in fact, we’re all a little crazier than we’d like to admit. he draws on decades of research to show that what we consider moral judgments are not formed by sound reasoning, but by intuition. understanding why and how this happens is fundamental to understanding each other. and a necessary part of having an opinion.
8. yes or no: the guide to make better decisions
by: spencer johnson
who took my cheese? It gets a lot of love, but Spencer Johnson’s book on decision making deserves a lot more attention than it gets. In my opinion, it is the best book of his. and it is short, practical and easy to apply. you could read this during your lunch break and be a better thinker before you even finished your sandwich.
9. the talent book
by: daniel coyle
This is a great companion piece to the talent code from the same author, but it definitely stands on its own. where that book is more about the science and research behind talent development, the little book of talent gives you the “how to” with over 50 specific exercises you can start using today to improve whatever skill you’re working on , be it art, music, sports or cooking eggs. this book will help you get better, faster.
10. the solution to worry: using advanced brain science to turn stress and anxiety into confidence and happiness
by: martin rossman
Seneca once said: “he who suffers sooner than necessary, suffers more than necessary”. Often, that unnecessary suffering comes from excessive worry. I get it, there’s a lot to worry about today: kids, finances, your career, relationships, the list is endless. This book offers practical, actionable steps to manage worry so you stop adding unnecessary stress and anxiety to your life.
11. shantaram: a novel
by: gregorio david roberts
shantaram, one of the only novels on the list, is not so much a book about making decisions, but rather a fascinating case study on how the direction of our lives is inextricably linked to the decisions we make. At nearly 1,000 pages, this isn’t an afternoon read, but it’s an exciting ride that doesn’t slow down once it gets rolling. from inside cover:
shantaram is narrated by lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who escapes from a maximum security prison in australia and into the bustling streets of a city where he may disappear. burning slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison agonies, criminal wars and bollywood movies, spiritual gurus and mujahideen guerrillas – this great novel has the world of human experience at its fingertips, and a passionate love of Indian in her heart. Based on the life of the author, it is by any measure the debut of an extraordinary voice in literature.
12. the art of living
by: epictetus
Epictetus, one of the most influential Stoic thinkers, was born into slavery around 55 AD. in the eastern outskirts of the Roman empire. once released, he established a school of Stoic philosophy, emphasizing that human beings cannot control life, only their responses to it. By putting into practice the ninety-three clever, wise and sharp instructions that make up the art of living, he will learn to successfully meet the challenges of everyday life and to meet life’s inevitable losses and disappointments with grace.
13. the education of a value investor
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by: spier boy
This book contains a lot in its pages. is an invaluable education in value investing and a fascinating story of personal transformation. Among other valuable lessons, you’ll discover how a $600,000+ lunch with Warren Buffet turned out to be one of the best (and most profitable) investments author Guy Spier ever made.
14. the devil takes last: a story of financial speculation
by: edward chancellor
Before you spend a dime on those high-tech stocks your co-worker is raving about, pick up this book. the author takes a close look at the psychological and economic forces that drive people to “bet” their money on the markets; how the markets are made, unmade, manipulated; And who wins when speculation runs rampant.
15. click: the art and science of moving from dead center to insight
by: eva grodnitzky
Wouldn’t it be great if we could get inspired on demand? receive a new jolt of energy, ideas and creativity when we have hit the wall? According to author Eve Grodnitsky, we can. in click, provides a 7-step methodology to take someone from “dead spot to insight.” Based on the latest research and her own analysis of hundreds of real-life stories, dr. grodnitzky explains how perception really works and how to have more of these eureka moments at work and in life.
16. the dictator’s manual: why bad behavior is almost always good policy
by: Bruce Bueno de Mesquita
The authors of this book make a bold claim: Leaders do whatever keeps them in power, regardless of the national interest. and while there are clear differences between a liberal democracy and a dictatorship, the common thread between them is the same: scratching one’s back and keeping people in the dark. This is an entertaining, but sometimes disturbing, manual for gaining and preserving power, similar to Machiavelli’s Prince.
17. the back of the napkin & how to solve problems and sell ideas
by: dan roan
Have you ever had a hard time expressing a complex idea to someone? In this book, author Dan Roan suggests using fewer words and more images. shows how a few simple drawings done the right way can clear up any problem or sell any idea to your audience, be it one person or an entire audience.
18. crossing to safety
by: wallace stegner
one of only three novels on the list. from the inside flap:
called a “superbly crafted story”. . . brimming with wisdom” by howard frank mosher in the washington post book world, crossing to safe has established itself, since its publication in 1987, as one of the most important and beloved american novels of the 20th century. Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples moving between Vermont and Wisconsin, it’s a work of quiet majesty, deep compassion, and powerful insight into the alchemy of friendship and marriage.
19. paradox of choice: why more is less
by: barry schwartz
No matter what you’re looking for in the market, you have options. many of them. where to spend your money, how to order your coffee, what to wear, and don’t even get me started on the menu at the cheesecake factory.
In The Paradox of Choice, Schwartz makes the counterintuitive case that too many choices can actually be a bad thing, and eliminating choice can reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. he offers 11 practical steps to limit your options to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on the ones that are important, and gain greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.
20. streetlights and shadows: looking for the keys to adaptive decision making
by: gary klein
When making an important decision, should you go with your gut or rely more on logic and statistics? the answer may not be as clear cut as one might hope, and each situation requires its own approach. In Streetlights and Shadows, Gary Klein debunks conventional wisdom about how to make decisions. she takes ten commonly accepted statements about decision-making and shows that they are better suited to the lab than to life, and what we should be doing instead.
21. the social animal
by: david brooks
The Social Animal weaves the narrative of a fictional American couple (from birth to old age) with the latest research in social and cognitive science to illustrate how we develop during different stages of our lives. brooks paints a refreshing new vision of humanity and what it really means to be successful.
22. the laws of simplicity
by: john maeda
In this short but engaging read, computer and graphic designer maeda proposes ten laws for simplifying complex systems in business and life (but focuses primarily on product design). Maeda’s upbeat explanations discuss the power of less: fewer features, fewer buttons, and fewer distractions, while he provides practical strategies for harnessing that power.
23. push: improve decisions about health, wealth and happiness
by: richard h. thaler
By now, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that humans are inherently bad at making decisions. and only through understanding and knowing our biases can we hope to get better at it. This is a well-written, easy-to-read book by Richard Thaler (who happened to be a Nobel Prize winner). if you want to improve your own decision making and also learn how to “push” your loved ones better options as well, then pick up this book.
24. reminiscences of a stock trader
by: edwin lefevre & roger lowenstein
First published in 1923, A Stock Trader’s Reminiscences is perhaps the most widely read and recommended investment book of all time. and after nearly 100 years on the shelves, it’s as relevant today as it was when it was first written. Generations of readers have discovered that it has more to teach them about markets and people than years of hands-on experience.
25. this will make you smarter
by: john brockman
“what scientific concept would improve everyone’s cognitive toolkit?”
This is the question John Brockman posed to the world’s most influential thinkers. this book is a collection of his answers. Daniel Kahneman, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Richard Dawkins, Brian Eno, Steven Pinker, Lisa Randall: the list goes on and on. you will definitely learn something new and immediately useful in this book.
26. a more beautiful question: the power of inquiry to generate innovative ideas
by: warren berger
in a more beautiful question, warren berger makes the convincing argument that our results are directly related to the quality of the questions we are willing to ask. Showing how to approach questions with an open, curious mind and a willingness to work with a series of “why,” “what if,” and “how” queries, Berger offers an inspiring framework for how we can all come to better solutions. , new possibilities and greater success in business and in life.
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Goes well with this podcast interview. 😉
27. Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice
by: bill brownen
I’ve talked about this book before and it’s still high on my list of personal recommendations. It’s hard to believe that this story relates to real events – it reads like a fictional crime thriller and it was hard for me to put it down. If you like conspiracies, crime, and politics, run for office. Just kidding, get this book.
28. the man who mistook his wife for a hat
by: oliver sacks
This book is a collection of some of the strangest, most fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking stories of people affected by a variety of neurological disorders. we learn about patients who can no longer recognize ordinary people and objects; that they are attacked by violent tics and grimaces or that they shout involuntary obscenities; whose limbs have become strange; and who have been dismissed as retarded but are endowed with amazing artistic or mathematical talents.
29. reckless king: a new life of philip ii
by: geoffrey parker
Philip II is not only the most famous king in Spanish history, but one of the most famous monarchs in English history: the man who married Mary Tudor and then launched the Spanish Armada against her sister Elizabeth I.
This book examines Philip’s long apprenticeship; your top three interests (work, play, and religion); and the major political, military, and personal challenges she faced during her long reign. Parker offers new insights into the causes of Philip’s leadership failures: Was his empire simply too big to manage, or would it have been better served by a monarch with different talents and temperaments?
30. seeking wisdom
by: peter bevelin
Inspired by the wisdom of Charlie Munger, Seeking Wisdom is a compendium of the big ideas that shape the way we see and interact with the world. this book is one of my personal favorites and has had a huge impact on my way of thinking and seeing reality. (get it.)
31. mastery
by: robert greene
robert greene insists that we all have within us to be teachers. and in mastery, he provides the formula. the same formula used by great historical figures such as charles darwin, mozart, paul graham and henry ford.
32. synchronicity: the inner path of leadership
by: joseph jajorski
“Synchronicity” is the term used to describe the feeling that everything in life, the ups and downs, the disasters and the triumphs, seem to work together for your good. Author Joseph Javorski argues that the right state of mind will make you the kind of person who can enlist the cooperation of fate and harness synchronicity, creating the conditions for “predictable miracles.”
33. the cultural map: breaking the invisible boundaries of global business
by: erin meyer
Americans precede anything negative with three good comments; French, Dutch, Israelis and Germans go straight to the point; Latin Americans and Asians are hierarchical; Scandinavians think that the best boss is just one of the crowd. not surprisingly, when they try to talk to each other, chaos ensues. this is the book to help you navigate those complicated and potentially uncomfortable misunderstandings.
34. ubiquity: why catastrophes happen
by: mark buchanan
Mark Buchanan, critically acclaimed science journalist, tells the fascinating story of the discovery that there is a natural structure of instability woven into the fabric of our world, which explains why catastrophes, both natural and man-made, occur.
35. family fortunes
by: bill bonner
In Family Fortunes, the father-and-son and bonner bill will introduce a radical new way of looking at family money along with the practical advice you need to build and maintain multi-generational wealth. Packed with valuable tips for making money and keeping it in the family, the book illustrates why family money is the most dynamic and progressive capital in the world, and how your family can profit from it for generations to come.
36. influence: the psychology of persuasion
by: robert cialdini
considered by many to be the bible of persuasion, dr. Cialdini’s Influence was one of the first books to explore the irrationality of human decision making and helped put the field of behavioral economics on the map. Through dozens of fascinating real-life studies, he’ll learn the six universal principles, how to use them to become an expert persuader, and how to defend against them.
37. antifragile: things that benefit from clutter
by: nassim nicholas taleb
brittle systems break under stress, robust systems resist it, and anti-brittle systems benefit from it. that is the premise of the innovative work of taleb, antifragile. That we should not only prepare for risk, uncertainty, and chaos, but invite them in, is a revolutionary idea, but Taleb makes a strong case. Throughout the book, he explores the state of politics, urban planning, finance, economics, and medicine to illustrate the need to build antifragile systems if we want to thrive in this world.
38. Poor Charlie’s Almanac: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. hunter
by: pedro d. kaufman & Charlie T. hunter
pound for pound, one of the most important books I’ve ever read and one that has had a profound impact on the way I think. It should come as no surprise to fs readers that charlie munger and warren buffet are the two people who have influenced me the most, and this book is a collection of much of the wisdom that drew me to their philosophies on life, investing, and how I look at the world and yes, even though the book is a bit more expensive than most, if it was 20 times the price it would still be an incredible value.
39. the brain that changes itself
by: norman doidge
For centuries it was thought that the brain stopped developing after a period of time and that it was a very rigid process. In this book, Norman Doidge explores what scientists call “neuroplasticity” and how almost everything we once believed about the brain is wrong. the brain is fluid, constantly reassigning and rewiring itself to work more efficiently. dr Doidge shares powerful stories of people relearning to speak after a stroke, overcoming debilitating vertigo, even a blind man learning to “see.” Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks.
40. the great mental models, volume 1: general concepts of thought
A deep understanding of these 9 models will undoubtedly improve the way you approach problems, consider opportunities, and make tough decisions.
And there you have it: a list of books on decision making that should give you a great starting point. let us know if there was a book we missed that needs to be on the list!
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