Decisive

How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

By: Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Chip and Dan Heath, the best-selling authors of Switch and Made to Stick, tackle one of the most critical topics in our work and personal lives: how to make better decisions.

Research in psychology has revealed that our decisions are disrupted by an array of biases and irrationalities: We’re overconfident. We seek out information that supports us and downplay information that doesn’t. We get distracted by short-term emotions. When it comes to making choices, it seems, our brains are flawed instruments. Unfortunately, merely being aware of these shortcomings doesn’t fix the problem, any more than knowing that we are nearsighted helps us to see. The real question is: How can we do better?

In Decisive, the Heaths, based on an exhaustive study of the decision-making literature, introduce a four-step process designed to counteract these biases. Written in an engaging and compulsively listenable style, Decisive takes readers on an unforgettable journey, from a rock star’s ingenious decision-making trick to a CEO’s disastrous acquisition, to a single question that can often resolve thorny personal decisions.

Along the way, we learn the answers to critical questions such as these: How can we stop the cycle of agonizing over our decisions? How can we make group decisions without destructive politics? And how can we ensure that we don’t overlook precious opportunities to change our course?

Decisive is the Heath brothers’ most powerful - and important - book yet, offering fresh strategies and practical tools enabling us to make better choices. Because the right decision, at the right moment, can make all the difference.

©2013 Chip Heath and Dan Heath (P)2013 Random House Audio

Great insight!

Chip and Dan are extremely skilled at breaking a process, in this case, making the right decisions, down into manageable, digestible chunks that are easy to comprehend, understand and implement. Well worth your time and effort!

I’m glad I decided to listen to this!

This was a clear and comprehensive outline of decision making. Every chapter provided information that I could immediately put to use. The Q&A roadblock format in the last chapter was a particularly effective summary. Thank you!

One of the top audio's I have heard this year!

One of the top audio's I have heard this year. So many great actionable advice on decision making provided in an engaging format. While it is hard to remember all of them you don't have to. They have the main points summarized on-line for those who purchase their audio. While I have heard bits and pieces of many of these ideas in other audio books this one brought the best ones together and was able to expand on them. If you enjoyed their previous work (Made to Stick or Switch) then you will not be disappointed by Decisive. Unlike many other authors each book is very different and they do not repeat themselves.

Great Ideas

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Once upon a time our OM (Owner & Manager) team occasionally struggled with decisions. OM meetings would rely on some information, recent emotions, incomplete research and un-brainstormed ideas. While many great things were accomplished due to the talent of the team, there were also some things that didn't work out as well.

One day the team decided to read DECISIVE by Dan & Chip Heath.

Because of that they learned the 4 steps of a better decision making process that quickly became a part of their language.

Because of that they were able to better coach their teams on how to make better decisions in their daily activities which increased their efficiency and success.

Until finally the whole organization was able to consistently make better complex decisions to achieve greatnesses and increased profitability.

extremely good advice to live and learn by.

I really enjoyed it. the WRAP decision process is easy to learn, easy to apply, but extremely versatile.

Interesting and Informative

Would you consider the audio edition of Decisive to be better than the print version?

Yes, if only because I can imagine the information provided in Decisive may have been a little dry for text.

Who was your favorite character and why?

n/a

Which character – as performed by Kaleo Griffith – was your favorite?

n/a

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

this is an odd question for a non fiction informative book.

Any additional comments?

It's a good book on the various methods people go through when making important decisions, and minor tweaks that can be made to that process to help yourself make more informed decisions.

A most Read. Excellent Tools an Real examples

I love this book I recommend it for everybody. No matter your role it gives you a real good set of tools to widthen your options

nothing new but good advice, too long

Could have been scaled down by at least half. too many stories and got boring after a while.

This was an excellent book. Listen several times & then bought the book

Several practical examples of advanced approaches. Strongly recommend. Learned several Great principles even though I’d been blessed to get decision making training in grad school and 2 fortune 50 companies.

Good Ideas and Easy to Follow

Where does Decisive rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I always like to listen to new ways of looking & solving problems. I really felt I got my credits worth with this book. I even bought the hardcover because I wanted to look up some of the suggestions and references. It is a book I will keep on my desk.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Decisive?

I really liked the stories told about Franklin and the corporate stories. They made their case for their decision making process. I am not in corporate or social science business, but I know this will help me in my personal life as well as business.

What about Kaleo Griffith’s performance did you like?

I liked his voice for this book. It was easy to listen to. Very smooth. I am glad he didn't rush or go fast because there are many points that need to "sink-in". I would listen to a book narrated by K. Griffith again

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All the stories were so interesting and the fact that they are true just made it better.

Any additional comments?

Anyone wanting a "leg up" in business and the decision making process needs and should read this book. Now I want to listen to their other 2 books.