Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger, 3rd Edition

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Binding: Hardcover EAN: 9781578644285 ISBN: 1578644283 Label: PCA Publications L.L.C. Manufacturer: PCA Publications L.L.C. Number Of Pages: 328 Publication Date: 2007 Publisher: PCA Publications L.L.C. Studio: PCA Publications L.L.C.
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Editorial Reviews: Peter Bevelin begins his fascinating book with Confucius' great wisdom: "A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake." Seeking Wisdom is the result of Bevelin's learning about attaining wisdom. His quest for wisdom originated partly from making mistakes himself and observing those of others but also from the philosophy of super-investor and Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charles Munger. A man whose simplicity and clarity of thought was unequal to anything Bevelin had seen. In addition to naturalist Charles Darwin and Munger, Bevelin cites an encyclopedic range of thinkers: from first-century BCE Roman poet Publius Terentius to Mark Twainfrom Albert Einstein to Richard Feynmanfrom 16th Century French essayist Michel de Montaigne to Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett. In the book, he describes ideas and research findings from many different fields. This book is for those who love the constant search for knowledge. It is in the spirit of Charles Munger, who says, "All I want to know is where I'm going to die so I'll never go there." There are roads that lead to unhappiness. An understanding of how and why we can "die" should help us avoid them. We can't eliminate mistakes, but we can prevent those that can really hurt us. Using exemplars of clear thinking and attained wisdom, Bevelin focuses on how our thoughts are influenced, why we make misjudgments and tools to improve our thinking. Bevelin tackles such eternal questions as: Why do we behave like we do? What do we want out of life? What interferes with our goals? Read and study this wonderful multidisciplinary exploration of wisdom. It may change the way you think and act in business and in life.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Get rich quick method doesn't work Comment: This is a get-rich-quick type of play for wisdom acquisition. It is difficult to appreciate and fully understand the 'mental models' that are described in this book when read in such short bites. In my experience it has been far more rewarding to carefully read all the books that Munger recommends, which contain one or two big ideas (mental models) each. These books go into the idea in depth so you can fully understand and soak them into your mental latticework. I'd start with Influence by Cialdini, then The Selfish Gene, and when you get around to finishing 4-5 of the books, go back and read it again because you'll get alot more out of it after having acquired the wisdom in the other books. Customer Rating: Summary: One of the best books for....well, seeking wisdom Comment: This book and Poor Charlie's Almanack are the two best books, in my opinion, for developing one's Latticework of Mental Models. Mr. Bevelin put in the time and work to make things flow in a logical order, and gives plenty of reference for further reading. For more on mental models and worldy wisdom, here is a description in the words of Charlie Munger: "What is elementary, worldly wisdom? Well, the first rule is that you can't really know anything if you just remember isolated facts and try and bang 'em back. If the facts don't hang together on a latticework of theory, you don't have them in a usable form. You've got to have models in your head. And you've got to array your experience - both vicarious and direct - on this latticework of models. You may have noticed students who just try to remember and pound back what is remembered. Well, they fail in school and in life. You've got to hang experience on a latticework of models in your head. What are the models? Well, the first rule is that you've got to have multiple models - because if you just have one or two that you're using, the nature of human psychology is such that you'll torture reality so that it fits your models, or at least you'll think it does. You become the equivalent of a chiropractor who, of course, is the great [...] in medicine. It's like the old saying, "To the man with only a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." And of course, that's the way the chiropractor goes about practicing medicine. But that's a perfectly disastrous way to think and a perfectly disastrous way to operate in the world. So you've got to have multiple models. And the models have to come from multiple disciplines - because all the wisdom of the world is not to be found in one little academic department. That's why poetry professors, by and large, are so unwise in a worldly sense. They don't have enough models in their heads. So you've got to have models across a fair array of disciplines. You may say, "My God, this is already getting way too tough." But, fortunately, it isn't that tough - because 80 or 90 important models will carry about 90% of the freight in making you a worldly - wise person. And, of those, only a mere handful really carry very heavy freight. ..... Checklist routines avoid a lot of errors. You should have all this elementary [worldly] wisdom and then you should go through a mental checklist in order to use it. There is no other procedure in the world that will work as well." Customer Rating: Summary: A book not available from Amazon in the UK. Why not? Comment: I have a theory that books that are really worth reading, are usually difficult to find in the bookstore. As Bevelin quotes Oscar Wilde in this book, "The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing." I work as a speechwriter and the discovery of Charlie Munger's speeches has opened up a whole new universe for me. I studied languages at Oxford University and it didn't teach me a single thing that has helped me run my own business. I love the idea of Munger's multidisciplinary approach, and he's a wonderful contrarian business intellectual. Bevelin provides a kind of Coles' notes to the Buffet/Munger theories. On every page I have underlined excellent pearls of wisdom that will enhance any business presentation. Here are half-a dozen. He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner. Benjamin Franklin Everything seems stupid when it fails. Fydor Dostoevsky He that complies against his will, is of his own opinion still. Samuel Butler The task of man is not to see what lies dimly in the distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand. Sir William Osler I conceive that the great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles. Benjamin Franklin No victor believes in chance. Friedrich Nietzsche Expand your mind. Buy this book. Customer Rating: Summary: Viewing & Understanding Your Own World Better Comment: Though most of us probably became aware of this book thru either Charles Munger or from the investing community, however, it provides more to one's own education than just improving your investment returns only. In my view, the contribution of this book is to educate your mind to better view the world around you which then may provide for better investment returns but actually provides more. This excellent addition to the study of "mental models" is divided into four (4) parts. Part 1 - What Influences Our Thinking Part 2 - The Psychology of Misjudgments Part 3 - The Physics & Mathematics of Misjudgments Part 4 - Guidelines to Better Thinking Part 2 & 4 are the corner stones of the book. Part 2 breaks out "28" mental models much like the "25" models in Poor Charlie's Almanack. To paraphrase a fellow reviewer, "This is a section you read first, then leave close by and re-read over and over, so you can slowly soak up the wisdom." Part 4 in essence expounds and adds more color to what both Parts 2 & 3 have previously explored. Also, Appendix #4 on Checklists is a must read. In Mr. Bevelin's introduction, he asks that we start the journey for wisdom and hopes that it is inspiring. Mr. Bevelin, a big thanks for your contribution! Cautionary Note: If the reader is not at least somewhat familiar with "mental models" or has not read other fine books on the subject similar to Poor Charlie's Almanack, Influence, How We Know What Isn't So, or The Psychology of Judgment & Decision Making, one may be best suited to start there. After your spade work is complete, most assuredly come back as this book takes you to the next level. Customer Rating: Summary: Outstanding book on Mental Models !!! Comment: To my knowledge, there is no finer book on mental models, how to use it and most importantly, how not to make a fool of oneself. Knowing the chapters is useful for understanding what the book is about; What influences our thinking, the psychology of misjudgements, the physics and mathematics of misjudegements and guidance to better thinking. The author and Munger in particular believe strongly in a multi-disciplinary approach. Therefore, the book should appeal to readers of different professions while the book is skewed towards business/finance. The mental model preaches rational thinking and decision making. You love the book or you don't, but you cannot argue about the tremendous amount of wisdom. More Reviews