Elegant, startling, and universal in its applications, The Black Swan is a concept that will change the way you look at the world. Black Swans underlie almost everything, from the rise of religions, to events in our own personal lives. A Black Swan is a highly improbable event with three principle characteristics: it is unpredictable; it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear less random and more predictable than it was. The astonishing success of Google was a black ...
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Elegant, startling, and universal in its applications, The Black Swan is a concept that will change the way you look at the world. Black Swans underlie almost everything, from the rise of religions, to events in our own personal lives. A Black Swan is a highly improbable event with three principle characteristics: it is unpredictable; it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear less random and more predictable than it was. The astonishing success of Google was a black swan; so was 9/11. And why do we always ignore the phenomenon of Black Swans until after they occur? As Nassim Nicholas Taleb reveals, we are hard-wired not to truly estimate risk, too vulnerable to the impulse to simplify, narrate, and categorize and not open enough to rewarding those who can imagine the `impossible'. In this revelatory book, Taleb explains everything we know about what we don't know, and shows us how to face the world.
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Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $1.16, fair condition, Sold by Good Books Will Follow rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Blue Springs, MO, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Random House.
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Fair. The book has obvious wear. It may have some damage to the cover but its integrity is intact. The binding may be slightly damaged but its integrity is still intact. There may be possible writing in the margins and underlining and highlighting of text but there are no missing pages or anything that would compromise the legibility or understanding of the text. See the seller's listing for full details and a description of any imperfections.
Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $1.34, fair condition, Sold by ClickGoodwill rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Indianapolis, IN, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Random House.
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Fair. Used-Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact but shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes highlighting or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may be missing bundled media.
Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $1.41, fair condition, Sold by Goodwill of Greater Milwaukee rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milwaukee, WI, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Random House.
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Fair. Book is considered to be in acceptable condition. The actual cover image may not match the stock photo. Book may have one or more of the following defects: noticeable wear on the cover dust jacket or spine; curved dog eared or creased page s; writing or highlighting inside or on the edges; sticker s or other adhesive on cover; CD DVD may not be included; and book may be a former library copy.
Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $2.10, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books East rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Glendale Heights, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Random House.
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Book is in good condition and may include underlining highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include From the library of labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service.
Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $2.10, fair condition, Sold by Zoom Books East rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Glendale Heights, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Random House.
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Fair. Book is in acceptable condition and shows signs of wear. Book may also include underlining highlighting. The book can also include From the library of labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service.
Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $2.23, good condition, Sold by Evergreen Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Random House.
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Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $2.34, good condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES.
Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $2.38, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Penguin.
Add this copy of The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable to cart. $2.79, fair condition, Sold by Goodwill Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hillsboro, OR, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Random House.
Haven't read the book yet. Bought it ahead for November's book club discussion. Plan on reading it this fall.
John T
Feb 13, 2011
Interesting but . . . .
This book has some interesting ideas, but it is somewhat annoying. The author is full of himself and wanders off the subject. However, it does get better as you work through it.
Beanie3
May 13, 2010
The author's snarky tone turned me off. He came off as such a smirking know-it-all that I didn't care what startling new conclusions he had reached.
crunch
Apr 22, 2010
an entertainment lacking in quantitative support
The book arrived with an unreported broken binding.
Taleb's content is entertaining and a useful if informal index of authors he mentions in passing, however as a standalone piece, it lacks substantive value (which I'm sure Taleb himself would admit).
sypsok
Jun 25, 2009
Nice book. Intellectual and eye - opening. I recommend to read this book for everyone interested in different point of view.