The Great Mental Models Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts

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.

Now you can see how we make suboptimal decisions and repeat mistakes. We are afraid to learn and admit when we don’t know enough. This is the mindset that leads to poor decisions. They are a source of stress and anxiety, and consume massive amounts of time.

When it comes to seeing what is—that is, understanding reality—we can follow Charles Darwin’s advice to notice things “which easily escape attention,” and ask why things happened.

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

Clarifying your thinking and explaining the origins of your ideas. (Why do I think this? What exactly do I think?)

ask questions to probe the limits of their circles.

The second flaw is ego.

origin, Hanlon’s Razor states that we should not attribute to malice that which is more easily explained by stupidity.

Bayesian thinking: