How To Decide

Simple Tools for Making Better Choices

Annie Duke

Book Synopsis

"How To Decide" by Annie Duke is a practical guide that teaches readers how to make better decisions in their personal and professional lives. Drawing from her background as a professional poker player and expert in decision strategy, Duke shares valuable insights on how to effectively navigate the uncertainty and complexity of decision-making.

In this book, Duke explores various cognitive biases that often cloud our judgment and provides practical exercises to help readers overcome them. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between the quality of a decision and its outcome, challenging the commonly held notion that good decisions always lead to positive outcomes.

Duke introduces the concept of resulting, which is the tendency to judge a decision based on its outcome rather than the decision-making process itself. She highlights the dangers of resulting and teaches readers how to evaluate decisions based on their quality, while embracing uncertainty and understanding that even good decisions can sometimes lead to undesirable outcomes.

Through engaging anecdotes and real-life examples, Duke demystifies decision-making and introduces a framework called "decision fitness" to help readers develop a more productive decision-making process. She explores topics such as the power of reframing, the role of emotions, and the importance of seeking diverse perspectives while making decisions.

"How To Decide" provides readers with practical strategies and tools to improve their decision-making skills, enabling them to become more confident and effective decision-makers in all areas of life. Whether faced with everyday choices or complex dilemmas, this book equips readers with the knowledge and mindset needed to make better, more informed decisions for themselves and for their organizations.

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