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Antifragile

Started by Cain, December 03, 2012, 02:50:49 PM

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Cain

December 03, 2012, 02:50:49 PM
Taleb has a new book out.

I has it.

Unfortunately, I read the first four chapters while exhausted, and so they did not sink in.  However, the general theme is this: there are things in the world which are fragile, and break easily.  There are things in the world which are resilient, and do not break.  And then there are things which are antifragile, and become better through mistreatment.

Most of the world is built on the first, with some people aiming towards the second.  But Taleb thinks the best way is to go for the third option.

Anyway, more when I get to read it with a clear head.

LMNO

#1
December 03, 2012, 03:08:49 PM
When he says "things", does he mean ideas, investments, physical objects, or something else?

Cain

#2
December 03, 2012, 03:11:48 PM
All of the above.  One of his favourite analogies is Hormesis, but he's talking about political systems, economic systems and more besides.

LMNO

#3
December 03, 2012, 03:12:52 PM
Well, I guess there's another book on my list.

The Good Reverend Roger

#4
December 03, 2012, 03:16:01 PM
Mine, too.  I'm kind of fascinated by the idea of a governmental system that improves with abuse.
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

Cain

#5
December 03, 2012, 03:19:56 PM
He says the ideal for that is Switzerland.

Elder Iptuous

#6
December 03, 2012, 04:32:13 PM
is there an quintessential example on the dust jacket?

LMNO

#7
December 03, 2012, 04:37:41 PM
Roger's libido?

The Good Reverend Roger

#8
December 03, 2012, 04:42:50 PM
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

Elder Iptuous

#9
December 03, 2012, 04:44:14 PM
although basing our govenmental systems on Roger's libido is an amazing proposition, i'm having trouble trying to conceptualize any system that becomes stronger with abuse that isn't .... horrible.

Cain

#10
December 03, 2012, 04:49:01 PM
Quote from: Elder Iptuous on December 03, 2012, 04:32:13 PM
is there an quintessential example on the dust jacket?

A triangle.

With horrible, horrible colours behind it.

The triangle stands for fragile/robust/antifragile and also is a highly stable shape.

The Good Reverend Roger

#11
December 03, 2012, 05:09:05 PM
Quote from: Elder Iptuous on December 03, 2012, 04:44:14 PM
although basing our govenmental systems on Roger's libido is an amazing proposition, i'm having trouble trying to conceptualize any system that becomes stronger with abuse that isn't .... horrible.

You fuckers leave my libido alone.  It is NOT PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.  It is for MY USE, at MY DISCRETION, with consenting adults or inanimate objects/batches of chemicals as I SEE FIT.

No, base it on my horrible scabby arse, which only gets stronger as I abuse it with Indian food and the whiskey shits.

Hey.  The Whiskey Shits.  That's the best band name EVER.
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

Nephew Twiddleton

#12
December 03, 2012, 05:24:05 PM
Yeah it is!
Strange and Terrible Organ Laminator of Yesterday's Heavy Scene
Sentence or sentence fragment pending

Soy El Vaquero Peludo de Oro

TIM AM I, PRIMARY OF THE EXTRA-ATMOSPHERIC SIMIANS

Cainad (dec.)

#13
December 11, 2012, 04:17:15 PM
Quote from: Cain on December 03, 2012, 02:50:49 PM
Taleb has a new book out.

GETTING IT. BRB, AMAZON.

Quote
I has it.

Unfortunately, I read the first four chapters while exhausted, and so they did not sink in.  However, the general theme is this: there are things in the world which are fragile, and break easily.  There are things in the world which are resilient, and do not break.  And then there are things which are antifragile, and become better through mistreatment.

Most of the world is built on the first, with some people aiming towards the second.  But Taleb thinks the best way is to go for the third option.

Anyway, more when I get to read it with a clear head.

Oh, cool! Looking forward to this.





^The above reflects my actual thought process when I first saw this thread. The book is now sitting on my desk, awaiting the end of finals.

Cain

#14
December 11, 2012, 08:25:27 PM
It's sitting on my desk too, along with the latest offering from Robert Greene, Ian C. Esselmont's latest Malazan novel, and Ellroy's American Tabloid trilogy.

I'm hoping to get to it over the holidays, and make some proper notes.
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