Shane Parrish, The Great Mental Models (Vol. 1)

I read this book in 2025 after not finding it too interesting a few years ago. It was an insightful read and I recommend it. Have a look at Shane's blog Farnam Street.

Charlie Munger and Warren Buffet. A broad latticework of mental models for better understanding the world.

I believe in the discipline of mastering the best of what other people have figured out. —Charlie Munger

Introduction: Acquiring Wisdom

Galileo Galilei, 1564-1642. I really enjoyed the chapters being accompanied by stories of inspiring characters. Removing blind spots. Building a repertoire of mental models. Keeping our feet on the ground (Heracles defeating Antaeus). Understanding tested against reality and being updated accordingly. The importance of honest reflection of our decisions and outcomes. The three buckets of knowledge: inorganic systems, organic systems and human history as the three largest sample sizes.

I think it is undeniably true that the human brain must work in models. The trick is to have your brain work better than the other person’s brain because it understands the most fundamental models: ones that will do most work per unit. If you get into the mental habit of relating what you’re reading to the basic structure of the underlying ideas being demonstrated, you gradually accumulate some wisdom.

—Charlie Munger

Chapter 1: The Map is not the Territory

The map is not reality. Being able to carefully delimit given models. The tragedy of the commons. Always try to expand understanding upon models. Models are tools for exploration, not doctrines to force conformity.