- ISBN13: 9781400063512
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
A black swan is a highly improbable event with three principal 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. For Nassim Nicholas Taleb, black swans underlie almost everything about our world, from the rise of religions to events in our own personal lives.
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The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
Tags: astonishing success, Black, black swan, black swans, Brand New, computer, Condition, Google, Highly, Impact, Improbable, improbable event, ISBN, Mark, massive impact, nassim nicholas taleb, NEWNotes, Nicholas Taleb, personal lives, principal characteristics, Swan
#1 by Pat Young on January 25, 2010 - 8:47 pm
I couldn’t get past ALL the grammatical errors, a split infinitive on every second page it seems, and the sexist langauge, always using “he” as the generic reaslly put me off. Didn’t this have an editor? I bought 2 copies, 1 for me and 1 for a present, and BOTH books have black splotches of ink all over the pages in at least 30% of the book! Not impressed at all. It was not an easy read – he bashes philosophers (I have no problem with that), but then seems to fall into the same philagonist tone as those philosophers with whom he takes exception! Facts were great, but an editor would have helped! Did not enjoy, most disappointing. The publisher’s fault, poorly presented.
Rating: 1 / 5
#2 by Patricia A. Gruwell on January 25, 2010 - 10:06 pm
My Husband loves reading Black Swan. But very deep. He tells me all about the book. I will try reading it when he is finished. Thanks
Rating: 4 / 5
#3 by Janeen Smith on January 26, 2010 - 12:37 am
Often felt like author was making a case on how smart he is, which was distracting. He did have some good points and overall the book was a good read.
Rating: 3 / 5
#4 by Fnord on January 26, 2010 - 1:13 am
Actually I love this book and can’t get enough Taleb, mostly additionally, in the form of podcasts. I just couldn’t help but posting a comment on the quality of the paper and the binding. Especially a book like this which is full of fascinating facts and figures you’re going to want to put your finger on later, you might be inclined to highlight, right? The ink bleeds right through the paper to the other side. How frustrating. I buy hardbacks knowing that the paperback paper is too thin to highlight. Is this how it’s going to be now? There are other indications of cost cutting. The binding ripping after one reading. Inside cover full of bubbles where the glue didn’t quite catch. Especially with a Black Swan of a blockbuster hit, couldn’t you spend the extra couple of cents to make a quality product?
Rating: 1 / 5
#5 by Allan C. Coleman on January 26, 2010 - 3:24 am
Although I’m a fan of Nassim , I didn’t care as much for this book as I did his others .
Rating: 4 / 5