Eyes Wide Open

Eyes Wide Open: How to Make Smart Decisions in a Confusing World is Noreena Hertz's practical, cutting-edge guide to help you cut through the data deluge and make smarter and better choices, based on her highly popular TED talk. In this eye-opening handbook, the internationally noted speaker, economics expert, and bestselling author of IOU: The Debt Threat and Silent Takeover reveals the extent to which the biggest decisions in our lives are often made on the basis of flawed information, weak assumptions, corrupted data, insufficient scrutiny of others, and a lack of self-knowledge. To avert such disasters, Hertz persuasively argues, we need to become empowered decision-makers, capable of making high-stakes choices and holding accountable those who advise us. In Eyes Wide Open, she weaves together scientific research with real-world examples from Hollywood to Harry Potter, NASA to World War Two spies, to construct a path to more astute and empowered decision-making in ten clear steps. With a razor-sharp intellect and an instinct for popular storytelling, she offers counter-intuitive, actionable guidance for making better choices—whether you are a business-person, a professional, a patient, or a parent. This ten-step guide provides the decision-making tool kit you need to: Challenge the Experts: Learn when to question authority figures, from doctors to financial advisors, and how to hold them accountable for their advice. Navigate the Data Deluge: Cut through the noise and flawed information with practical techniques for filtering what truly matters in a confusing world. Understand Your Own Mind: Uncover the hidden psychological traps, emotional states, and weak assumptions that can sabotage your choices. A Practical Framework: Follow a clear, actionable path to smarter decisions, filled with memorable examples from NASA to World War Two spies.