The Great Mental Models Vol. 2
Shane Parrish

Summary

The second book in Shane Parrish's series on the Great Mental models to think from first principles.

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Notes

Perspective influences what we perceive as reality and how we understand the world

Understand the value and complexity of multiple perspectives because that reduces blind spots and gives you a better understanding of reality

When it comes to reciprocity, we are driven more strongly to avoid losses than achieve gains

Reciprocity based on self-interest is still reciprocity

Become what you want to see in the world and it will be so

Once something is moving in a direction, it’s much easier to keep it in motion

The hardest part of starting but the larger the mass, the longer it takes to slow down

Reducing resistance is easier than adding force. Rather than catch up to competition, add resistance to them

Speed is just movement, velocity has direction

Leverage is achieving results significantly greater than the force you put in

Don’t sell yourself short and keep people wanting what you have. Understand when to use leverage and when not to

You need to put in enough activation energy to start multiple new reactions and if you don’t you won’t get the results you want

3 critical interventions can change countries from poor to rich: maximize output from agriculture, direct investment towards manufacturing and having financial policies that supports these things

Creating lasting change is harder than creating change. Don’t underestimate the activation energy required to break apart existing bonds and create new ones

Invest more than you think, you need to because real change takes effort

Knowledge comes from theory and experience. Be a disciple of experience and receive wisdom

You need to adapt to the environment you’re in, not the one you wish

Adaptation requires being forced out of your comfort zone and into a place where you observe and experience new threats to your security’ - Ragee Sagarin

Longevity does not protect against extinction. You must adapt or die

What matters is not the speed of adaptation but what problems it helps you solve and what problems arise as a result of the enemy’s adaptations

We don’t always know the value of something from the outset and there doesn’t have to be a justification for everything

In any ecosystem or team or organization, everyone has a role to play

Nothing exists in isolated and everything is connected

The environment makes the organism. You never know how/why someone does something until you’re in their shoes

Replication is necessary but not sufficient for survival

The rail industry and telegraph perfectly worked together

Dunbar’s number: 150 is the number of people we can maintain a relationship with

Incentives shape behaviour in all animals

An incentive is a key: a tiny object with an astonishing power to change a situation

Don’t follow incentives that don’t align with your values

Humans innately want to use the least energy possible but if we want to develop our thinking and maximize our environment, we have to be aware of the natural tendency to minimize output and correct for it where doing so creates value

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