The Science and Art of Thinking Well in Science, Business, the Arts, and Love

Julian L. Simon (see also vita, bio, and writings)
College of Business and Management, University of Maryland, College Park

Introduction
Overview
Preface
Part One: Introduction To Evaluative Thinking
Chapter 1-1: Evaluating Simple Alternatives
Chapter 1-2: Weighing Present Versus Future Benefits (and Costs)
Chapter 1-3: How to Think About Cost
Chapter 1-4: Allowing for Uncertainty
Chapter 1-5: Dealing With Risks
Chapter 1-6: Reconciling Multiple Goals
Part Two: Wants, Abilities, and Goals
Chapter 2-1: Tastes, Preferences, Wants, and Values
Chapter 2-2: Assessing Your Resources
Chapter 2-3: Choosing Goals and Criteria of Success
Part Three: Getting Useful Ideas and Knowledge
Chapter 3-1: Getting and Eliminating Ideas
Chapter 3-2: Experts, Expert Systems, and Libraries
Chapter 3-3: Using Scientific Discipline to Obtain Information
Chapter 3-4: Assessing Consequences and Likelihoods
Part Four: Working with Information and Knowledge
Chapter 4-1: Classifying Things Sensibly
Chapter 4-2: Reasoning Deductively
Chapter 4-3: Interpreting Information
Chapter 4-4: Prediction and Other Extension of Information
Chapter 4-5: Pitfalls That Entrap Thinking
Chapter 4-6: My Favorite Worst Sources of Errors
Chapter 4-7: Good Judgment
Chapter 4-8: Self-Discipline and Habits of Thought
Part Five: Feelings
Chapter 5-1: The Nature and Proximate Causes of Our Feelings
Chapter 5-2: The Nature of Sadness and Depression
Chapter 5-3: Overcoming Depression
Chapter 5-4: Step-By-Step Fight Against Sadness and Depression
Chapter 5-5: Anger
Chapter 5-6: Joy [not written yet]
Part Six: Dealing With Individuals and Groups
Chapter 6-1: Dealing With People, and Managing Them
Chapter 6-2: Figuring out People's Behavior [not written yet]
Chapter 6-3: Strategic Planning [not included]
Chapter 6-4: Control and Freedom in Society - I
Chapter 6-5: Control and Freedom in Society - II: Society and Economy as Spontaneously Evolved Systems
Chapter 6-6: To Whom Will You Be Loyal?
Chapter 6-7: Raising Children
Part Seven: Right, Wrong, and Law [not written yet]
Chapter 7-1: The Nature of Rules and Law [not written yet]
Chapter 7-2: Ethics [not written yet]
Chapter 7-3: Lying and Telling the Truth [not written yet]
Chapter 7-4: Discrimination [not written yet]
Part Eight: Examples: Some Special Skills of Thought [not written yet]
Chapter 8-x-1: Forecasting the Long Run: The Future is a Fight about Kosher Ducks
Chapter 8-9: Winning in Poker and Business
Chapter 8-11: Meditation

[ Home | Writings | Vita by Date | Vita by Subject | Unpublished Articles | Biography | Resampling | Replies to Critics ]

This page is maintained by Matthew Munsey. Questions, comments, and/or suggestions should be directed to mmunsey@mit.edu.