Thinking, Fast and Slow

Who is this book for?

• This book would likely appeal to readers with an academic or professional interest in psychology, behavioral economics, decision science and related fields.
• Those who enjoy deep dives into cognitive science and are comfortable with technical writing and statistical concepts would appreciate the rigorous approach.
• People who are fascinated by how the human mind works, are interested in improving their decision-making, or want to understand cognitive biases would find value in the insights presented.
• Readers who enjoy being challenged to think critically about their own thought processes would also be drawn to this book.

Who is unlikely to appreciate this book?

• Readers looking for a light, entertaining pop psychology book would likely be frustrated by the dense academic tone and length of this work.
• Those without a background or strong interest in psychology or behavioral science may find it overly technical and difficult to get through.
• People who prefer concise, practical self-help advice rather than theoretical explanations would probably not enjoy the in-depth exploration of cognitive processes.
• Readers who are skeptical of drawing broad conclusions from limited psychological studies or who prefer more holistic views of human nature may also dislike the reductionist approach taken in parts of the book.

Things online reviewers enjoyed about this book

• Provides groundbreaking insights into how the human mind works and makes decisions
• Explains the two systems that drive our thinking: fast, intuitive System 1 and slow, deliberative System 2
• Offers practical insights into how choices are made in business and personal life
• Reveals cognitive biases and fallacies people are prone to making
• Based on decades of rigorous research by a Nobel Prize winning psychologist
• Challenges assumptions about human rationality and decision-making
• Provides tools to understand why people behave in certain ways
• Offers ways to guard against mental glitches and improve decision-making
• Explores how intuition and reason interact in judgment and choice
• Illuminates how the brain forms thoughts and makes decisions

Things people didn't like as much about this book

• Can be dense, tedious and difficult to get through at over 400 pages
• Repetitive in explaining the same concepts multiple times
• Very academic and technical in tone for a general audience book
• Some find the numerous studies and experiments described to be boring
• Overreliance on experiments with college students as subjects
• Some conclusions drawn from limited studies may be overgeneralized
• Does not adequately address how learning/experience impacts intuition
• Statistical concepts may be challenging for readers without math background
• Some find the author's tone to be condescending at times
• Lack of practical advice for applying insights in everyday life