Book Review: Think Like A Freak

I'm trying this new thing, where I write the blog posts immediately after I read a book. Which is why it's nearly midnight on a Sunday, but here I am, writing a new post. Because somehow, by a power unknown to me [1], I am managing to actually read things and finish them. Speedily. Who knows how long this will last? Let's capitalize while we can. I'm still not reading that long line of had-forever-but-haven't-read books on my shelf, but oh well. Another day, another project.

For now, let's talk Freakonomics. I thiiiink I started that one several years ago, and couldn't get into it - for the very thing that makes it what it is: statistics and numbers. Or maybe it was The World Is Flat that I couldn't get into. Can't remember now; too many books between now and then. In any case, I'm not a Freakonomics devotee, though maybe after Think Like A Freak I will become one.

Think is eminently readable - engaging, brief, full of stories [2]. The advice is practical and relevant, while still somehow being fresh and non-preachy. I, at least, read many of their tips for "training your brain," and thought, "Huh. That's a really good idea. And so reasonable! Why didn't I think of it?" I especially liked the advice to learn to say "I don't know" (harder to say, they argue, than "I love you"), and to ask the right questions. Both such simple things, and yet so hard to do sometimes.

While the authors of Think are mostly concerned with bettering outcomes of charities and achieving career or academic goals, many - if not all - of their Freak Thinks could be used in spiritual or interpersonal matters, which for many of us, may be as or more important than career success. By learning to say "I don't know" when someone asks your opinion on something, it could prevent you from saying something you don't believe - and then giving you that push to figure out what you do believe. Asking the right questions would be helpful in all aspects of life, from "Does it upset you that I do XYZ?" to "What circumstances make me unhappy and what can I do to change those?" rather than "Geez, why are you making such a big deal out of it?" and "Why does nothing go my way?"

Think is extremely pragmatic. It looks at human behavior as it is - and tries to help the reader understand how to navigate, work around, or even use that behavior to achieve their goals. It is refreshing to read a something so direct. Rather than, "You're a special snowflake and people are harsh," they say, "People do things. Sometimes for these (moral, altruistic, noble) reasons, but mostly for those (herd mentality, incentive-rich, avoid pain) reasons. We do it for those reasons, and so do you. It's okay. Good can still be accomplished."

The message of Think seems to be, Look at the world how it is. Use your brain. Accept your flaws and the flaws of those around you. Work with the motivations and the skills that exist, not the ones you wish existed. Be creative.

And if that's too long: Think like a Freak. But don't freak out.

xo,
Devo

[1] Maybe it's the power of The New Year? Fresh starts and all that. Maybe it's because I really, really want to throw my 1000-books-read party? Only 143 to go!

[2] They follow their own advice, one of which is to "tell stories." Which, they are quick to point out, are different than anecdotes.