"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman

Before looking into the title itself, a little word about the author, Daniel Kahneman. Besides being a writer he also did some extensive work in the field of psychology, even earning a Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his theory which challenged the rational model of judgment and decision-making. 

He is one of the world’s greatest thinkers, constantly trying to think of innovations that would make humankind progress, and Thinking, Fast and Slow is basically the culmination of years upon years of diligent research. In Thinking, Fast and Slow Kahneman discusses the two main systems of thought we follow. The first one is that of fast reactions, intuitions and emotions, while the second one is slower, clearer and more logical.

In addition to looking into the full potential behind our thinking capabilities, he also looks into the various flaws they have, even looking into the kind of impact impressions have on the way we think and act. 

He looks into how corporations tailor their strategies around the psychological concepts of loss aversion, and another one I’m sure you are familiar with, overconfidence. He even exposes the way in which cognitive biases affect everything we think, say and do, from stock market bidding all the way to birthday planning.

Going beyond psychological theories, Kahneman also discusses how impossible it is to know exactly what will make us happy in the future, how we have difficulty evaluating the true risks and consequences of our actions, and how the future is basically a big grey blob that gets shaped and colored by the actions we make (that’s my interpretation though). In order to understand what gives those actions a reason to be, it is necessary to understand the two primary systems of thought.

Of course, Kahneman doesn’t just talk about what is wrong with our psyche… he also provides practical advice and insights on how we can make the most of both of our thinking processes, how we can get a better insight into the choices we make, and even how we can guard ourselves against mental “malfunctioning” that so often puts us in an uncomfortable position.

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Daniel Kahneman Daniel Kahneman is an Israeli-American psychologist and author, who in 2002 shared the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with Vernon L. Smith. At the moment he is professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School, and in 2011 saw his book published, Thinking, Fast and Slow, summarizing his research globally.