The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts

By: Shane Parrish, Rhiannon Beaubien

This could’ve easily been the best book of the month if it wasn’t because I also read a Jack Weatherford book in the same month.

If you want to upgrade your thinking, which I think everyone would benefit from it, then you MUST read this book.

It’s an easy read as well, so no excuses.

Flow: 5/5
Actionability: 5/5
Mindset: 5/5

Some of My Highlights:

“All the great wisdom of humanity is written down somewhere.”

“As the Roman poet Publius Terentius wrote: ‘Nothing has yet been said that’s not been said before.'”

“…thinking better isn’t about being a genius. It is about the processes we use to uncover reality and the choices we make once we do.”

“…being able to draw on a repertoire of mental models can help us minimize risk by understanding the forces that are at play. Not having the ability to shift perspective by applying knowledge from multiple disciplines makes us vulnerable.”

“Multidisciplinary thinking, learning these mental models and applying them across our lives, creates less stress and more freedom.”

“The further we are from the results of our decisions, the easier it is to keep our current views rather than update them.”

“When we touch that hot stove, the feedback is powerful and instantaneous.”

“As Confucious said, ‘A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it, is committing another mistake.'”

“Understanding only becomes useful when we adjust our behavior and actions accordingly.”

“In the real world you will either understand and adapt to find success or you will fail.”

“We need to learn to understand when ego serves us and when it hinders us.”

“Without reflection we cannot learn. Without learning we are doomed to repeat mistakes, become frustrated when the world doesn’t work the way we want it to, and wonder why we are so busy. The cycle goes on.”