1) WHY DO WE NEED A BOOK ON PRACTICAL THINKING?

 The human brain is the most important tool we have. It’s more important than

any technology, device, or instrument. Robert Greene, the author of Mastery,

put it best: “If there is any instrument you must fall in love with and fetishize,

it is the human brain—the most miraculous, awe-inspiring, informationprocessing tool devised in the known universe, with a complexity we can’t

even begin to fathom, and with dimensional powers that far outstrip any piece

of technology in sophistication and usefulness.” 

However, there’s one problem. We’re born with this great tool, but we don’t

know how to use it properly. We’re highly impractical beings. We think that

we’re good thinkers, but research paints a different picture. We think we

make practical decisions that we base on logic. But that’s not the case, as Dan

Ariely, author of Predictable Irrationality, writes: “We usually think of

ourselves as sitting in the driver's seat, with ultimate control over the

decisions we made and the direction our life takes; but, alas, this perception

has more to do with our desires—with how we want to view ourselves-than

with reality.” (emphasis mine)

It’s safe to say we’re not practical thinkers! The proof of that is the list of

more than a hundred cognitive biases (or thinking errors) that scientists have

found over the last century. We often make decisions based on gut feelings,

emotions, and without having the right information. I’ve read several books

about better thinking and decision making. I liked them. But I had one

problem with all the books in this field: They weren’t practical. They do a

great job of describing why we think the way we think by sharing stories. But

I couldn’t find a practical book that explained how to change the way you

think.

That’s why I wrote this little book. It contains everything I’ve learned about

thinking. My goal is to give you at least one idea that you can use to improve

your thoughts, and consequently, your life, business, or career. That’s why I

share all my best ideas here. I wrote THINK STRAIGHT in a way that you

can read it more than once. And I hope this book serves as an anchor to you

—especially during trying times.

To keep this book practical, I combine theory, stories, and personal

experiences to share advice you can apply (or not). The first idea I want to

share is that these types of books only work if you’re open-minded. If you

think that’s not you right now, I can save you an hour of your life. Just get rid

of this book. Burn it, ask for a refund, give it away, whatever. No matter what

you do, decide clearly: Use it or leave it.