Pause to Think - (Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing) by Jaime Lester (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book provides an accessible and useful introduction to mental models and multidisciplinary thinking approaches, informed by the author's investing experience. Most books that deal with mental models are primarily descriptive, citing a significant number of psychological experiments and other examples to illustrate various cognitive biases. By contrast, this book is primarily prescriptive, in that it takes the reader through over 30 important intellectual ideas and frameworks and then uses these as building blocks for improving practices in discrete areas such as Decision-Making, Learning Methods, Investing, and Data Interpretation"--

Book Synopsis

Our brains are wonderful tools, but they are nonetheless prone to misjudging information and making suboptimal decisions. In many situations, we act without fully considering why we are behaving in a certain way. We like to feel good about ourselves; we interpret the world using stories instead of statistics; and we make instinctive judgments and then stick to them. How can we think more clearly and make better decisions--in business and in life?

This book is a practical and accessible introduction to mental models, teaching readers how to harness their power to think more clearly, make better decisions, and learn more effectively. The essential step in applying these concepts and frameworks, Jaime Lester shows, is to pause. Take a moment to reflect on the options, decide on the optimal approach before launching into action, and reexamine the process regularly. Drawing on a variety of academic disciplines as well as cognitive and behavioral research, Lester offers step-by-step templates to improve readers' critical thinking and decision making. He guides readers through honing their reasoning in areas including finance, economics, statistics, and daily life and draws broader lessons for cultivating a prudent investment approach as well as personal well-being and happiness. Written in a conversational and witty style and featuring memorable examples and illustrations, Pause to Think shares essential lessons and tools for all readers interested in the power of mental models.

Review Quotes

If you are familiar with mental models, add this book to your collection. If you are new to mental models, it's a good place to start. I guarantee you will be smarter.-- "Eclectic Musings, Brian Langis blog"

Lester has struck gold in delivering a unique book that touches the minds and hearts of investment professionals -- one that we all should pause to read.-- "CFA Institute's Enterprising Investor"

A Jason Zweig 'Summer Reading' selection.-- "The Intelligent Investor, a WSJ newsletter"

I'll admit it, I'm a cynic about mental models. I've always been skeptical of finance bros who lift their heads from an Excel spreadsheet just long enough to pursue worldly wisdom by reading about worldly wisdom. Jaime Lester's Pause to Think is a welcome surprise that masterfully explores proven concepts and frameworks that help you think, learn, and make rational decisions. This book is smart, useful, and, dare I say it, wise.--Jeff Gramm, author of Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of Shareholder Activism

Turbo-boost your intellect. Pause to Think is a superb investment of your time and your money.--Rolf Dobelli, author of the global bestseller The Art of Thinking Clearly and founder, WORLD.MINDS

Pause to Think might be the most useful book I have ever read. By applying mental models to the most important aspects of our intellectual lives, it helps readers to make better decisions, learn more effectively, and be happier.--Josh Wolfe, cofounder, Lux Capital

This book identifies and explains mental models that can make you wiser and happier.--Tren Griffin, author of Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor and A Dozen Lessons for Entrepreneurs

About the Author

Jaime Lester is an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School. He is a hedge fund industry veteran who has worked at firms including Steinhardt Partners, SAC Capital, and Greenlight Capital, and managed his own investment fund for nine years.