Venkatesh Rao discusses the 3 types of decision-makers and shares how to adopt useful mental models to get better outcomes.
Now available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript
On this episode of The Knowledge Project, I have Venkatesh Rao.
Venkatesh is the founder of the blog Ribbonfarm, the technology analysis site Breaking Smart, and the author of a book on decision-making called Tempo.
Here are a few highlights from our conversation:
- The dangers and the benefits of tribalistic and individualistic thinking
- The 3 types of decision makers and a brief overview of each (which are you?)
- The brilliant way he describes the power of mental models through Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings
- How mental models simplify the sheer volume of information our brains are forced to process every day
- Why it’s critical to continually update your mental models, and how most people are doing this wrong
- How Venkatesh processes the information he reads, and how he handles material he doesn’t enjoy reading
- How technology will impact the way we run businesses, manage people, and even interact with each other
If you’ve been a reader of Farnam Street for any length of time, you know we love geeking out about mental models, and how they enhance our ability to make better decisions and fewer mistakes.
This interview will elevate your knowledge of mental models, help you spot your own personal biases, and hopefully persuade you to look at the world a little differently.
I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.
Books Mentioned:
- Tempo: timing, tactics and strategy in narrative-driven decision-making
- Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the History of the Industrial Enterprise
- The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business
- Images of Organization
- Finite and Infinite Games
- The Little Prince
- Catcher in the Rye
- Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
