Insights
A collection of insights from books that have had a lasting impact on me.
Thinking in Bets
by Annie Duke
A book about decision-making under uncertainty and how thinking probabilistically improves judgment.
Think in probabilities, not certainties
Treat beliefs like bets based on likelihood rather than absolute right-or-wrong judgments.
Separate decisions from outcomes
A good decision can lead to a bad outcome because of luck, and a bad decision can sometimes succeed.
Avoid “resulting”
Evaluate the quality of the reasoning behind a decision, not just the final result.
Invite thoughtful disagreement
Discuss decisions with people who challenge your assumptions to improve judgment.
Include diverse perspectives in group decisions
Recognise that groups with different perspectives and backgrounds make better decisions because they challenge assumptions and reduce blind spots.
Accept uncertainty and update beliefs
Remain open to new evidence and adjust views as information changes.
Obvious Adams
by Robert R. Updegraff
A book about clear thinking and how noticing simple, obvious solutions can lead to powerful results.
Focus on the core problem
Identify the real issue behind a situation before attempting to solve it.
Look for simple ideas that others overlook
Pay attention to straightforward ideas that may be ignored because people assume problems require complex answers. The most effective solutions are often the simplest to understand and implement.
Step back to see the bigger picture
Create distance from the details to gain a clearer view of the problem and identify simpler solutions.
Use clear and practical thinking
Rely on common sense and logical reasoning rather than unnecessarily complicated approaches.
Question assumptions and established habits
Examine practices that exist simply because “that’s how things have always been done.”
The Power of Habit
by Charles Duhigg
A book about how habits are formed, how they shape our behaviour, and how understanding the habit loop can help individuals and organisations create lasting change.
Recognise the habit loop: cue → routine → reward
Understand that most habits operate through a repeating cycle in which a trigger leads to a behaviour that produces a reward.
Change habits by altering the routine
Instead of trying to eliminate the habit entirely, keep the cue and reward but replace the behaviour in the habit loop.
Develop keystone habits
Build habits such as regular exercise or daily planning that trigger positive changes in other areas of life.
Build momentum through small wins
Use consistent small improvements to develop confidence and sustain change.
Increase awareness of habit triggers and rewards
Understand the cues and rewards behind behaviours to intentionally reshape habits.
The Checklist Manifesto
by Atul Gawande
A book about how simple checklists help individuals and teams manage complexity, reduce errors, and improve performance in high-stakes environments.
Recognise that complex systems fail when simple steps are missed
Understand that mistakes in high-stakes environments often occur not from lack of knowledge but from skipped basics.
Use checklists to reduce preventable errors
Apply simple, well-designed checklists to ensure that critical steps are consistently followed.
Use checklists to free mental capacity
Allow professionals to focus on judgment and problem-solving by delegating routine steps to checklists.
Use checklists to encourage communication
Encourage team members to speak up, coordinate actions, and confirm critical information.
Design checklists to be short, clear, and practical
Guide users with key steps without overwhelming them with excessive detail.
The Art of Possibility
by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander
A book about transforming the way we see challenges and shifting from a mindset of scarcity to one of possibility.
Shift from scarcity to possibility thinking
Look for opportunities and new ways to create value rather than focusing on limitations and competition.
Recognise that many constraints are assumptions
Understand that what feels like a fixed reality is often shaped by how situations are interpreted.
Give others an “A”
Approach people with trust and high expectations to inspire confidence, creativity, and growth.
Take responsibility for the framework of a situation
Recognise that the way problems are framed influences the solutions that become visible.
Create possibilities for others
Focus on enabling people to contribute, grow, and achieve more than they thought possible.
Illusions
by Richard Bach
A book about perception, freedom, and how our beliefs shape the reality we experience.
Question the limits you assume are real
Recognise that many limitations exist because we believe in them rather than because they are truly fixed.
See reality as shaped by belief
Understand that the way we interpret the world often reflects our expectations and assumptions.
Take responsibility for your choices
Accept that your life and experiences are shaped largely by the decisions you make.
Value freedom over conformity
Choose paths that align with your own values instead of simply following expectations set by others.
Look beyond appearances
Be open to the idea that reality may be deeper and more flexible than it first appears.
Treat life as a process of learning
Approach experiences as opportunities to explore, grow, and understand yourself more deeply.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
by Richard Bach
A book about pursuing excellence, personal freedom, and the courage to follow one’s own path.
Strive for mastery and excellence
Pursue improvement and learning for their own sake rather than simply meeting expectations.
Follow your own path with courage
Be willing to pursue goals that reflect your curiosity and values, even when they differ from others.
Learn through practice and persistence
Understand that growth comes from continuous effort, experimentation, and patience.
Value freedom of thought and spirit
Recognise that true freedom comes from expanding understanding beyond accepted limits.
Share knowledge with others
Help others grow by passing on what you have learned and encouraging their potential.
A Gentleman in Moscow
by Amor Towles
A book about dignity, resilience, and how meaning and purpose can be found even within life’s constraints.
Maintain dignity in changing circumstances
Respond to life’s challenges with grace and self-respect rather than bitterness.
Create meaning wherever you are
Find purpose in daily life and relationships, even when external freedom is limited.
Adapt without losing your character
Adjust to new realities while remaining true to your values and principles. Inner freedom can exist even when external circumstances are restricted.
Value relationships and small moments
Recognise that friendship, kindness, and shared experiences often give life its deepest meaning.
Approach life with patience and perspective
Understand that time, reflection, and calm judgment often lead to wiser choices.
What's in the Way Is the Way
by Mary O'Malley
A book about accepting life’s difficulties and using them as opportunities for awareness and growth.
See obstacles as opportunities for awareness
Recognise that challenges can reveal hidden patterns, beliefs, and habits that shape how you respond to life.
Turn toward difficulties instead of avoiding them
Meet uncomfortable experiences with curiosity rather than resistance, acknowledging what is happening in the present moment.
Use challenges as a path to growth
Understand that difficult situations often contain lessons that support personal development and deeper understanding.
Observe thoughts and reactions with curiosity
Notice inner responses without immediately judging, suppressing, or reacting to them.
Practice acceptance and openness to experience
Allow situations to unfold as they are and approach life with a willingness to learn from whatever arises.
Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor Frankl
A book about resilience and the human capacity to find purpose even in the most difficult circumstances.
Search for meaning in difficult experiences
Recognise that even painful situations can hold purpose when we seek to understand their significance.
Choose your response to circumstances
Understand that while external conditions may be beyond your control, your attitude toward them remains your own.
Find purpose through work, love, and courage
Discover meaning in meaningful effort, caring relationships, and the way you face adversity.
Hold on to purpose during hardship
Recognise that having a reason to continue can provide strength in challenging times.
See life as a continuous search for meaning
Approach each experience as part of an ongoing effort to understand purpose and direction in life.