Algorithms to Live By

The Computer Science of Human Decisions

De: Brian Christian, Tom Griffiths

Narrado por: Brian Christian

A fascinating exploration of how computer algorithms can be applied to our everyday lives, helping to solve common decision-making problems and illuminate the workings of the human mind

All our lives are constrained by limited space and time, limits that give rise to a particular set of problems. What should we do, or leave undone, in a day or a lifetime? How much messiness should we accept? What balance of new activities and familiar favorites is the most fulfilling? These may seem like uniquely human quandaries, but they are not: computers, too, face the same constraints, so computer scientists have been grappling with their version of such problems for decades. And the solutions they've found have much to teach us.

In a dazzlingly interdisciplinary work, acclaimed author Brian Christian (who holds degrees in computer science, philosophy, and poetry, and works at the intersection of all three) and Tom Griffiths (a UC Berkeley professor of cognitive science and psychology) show how the simple, precise algorithms used by computers can also untangle very human questions. They explain how to have better hunches and when to leave things to chance, how to deal with overwhelming choices and how best to connect with others. From finding a spouse to finding a parking spot, from organizing one's inbox to understanding the workings of human memory, Algorithms to Live By transforms the wisdom of computer science into strategies for human living.

©2016 Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Unconventional look at everyday life situations

The book offers a truly interesting view on decision making we have to do in everyday life. It has been a few weeks since I read it and I now do not recall exactly all the approaches described, but I do use some of the them and I believe it gives me some extra energy and time every day - very useful resource these days!

Excellent

Gave a good account on the role of algorithms and its reflection on human behavior. The maths are succinctly explained without having to resort to pen and paper. Great inspirational book.

Excellent contents

A book that changed my view on how to approach challenges in life. This book gave not only insights but also concrete, usable strategies derived from researches of computer science, also drawing connections to relevant fields of social sciences. Clean, clear, well-supported, thoughtful, and substantial all the way to the end.An extraordinary piece of nonfiction.

Huge fan - Love the Cognitive Science

If you could sum up Algorithms to Live By in three words, what would they be?

Love Cognitive Science!

What did you like best about this story?

I love how the different algorithms were applied to real life situations - many that I could relate to.

What does Brian Christian bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great voice and I like his pace of speaking, helps me visualize in my head while I'm listening.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Probably not all in one sitting since there is a lot of information to absorb.

Any additional comments?

What a great book. Would definitely listen to it again. Being someone in computer and cognitive science I really related to all of the information in this book and how to apply it to my life.

Stimulating!

As cheesy as this sounds, this book really inspired to approach problems with a different perspective. I feel at ease because each algorithm took into account how complex our daily issues are.

So good!

Extremely well done research, writing, and performance. Deep and practical insights made easy to understand!

Wisdom +2

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would! It felt like years of life lessons condensed into a few days.

Basic introduction to common algorithms in CS

The book is more for people new to computer science than people familiar with computer science who seeks to gain a new perspective on known algorithms.
Therefore the book wasn't very interesting to me but might be very interesting to someone who doesn't know common algorithms yet...

Unbelievably thought provoking.

I could not stop listening and shall listen to it again. It caused me think about the world like I never did before

First audio book purchase. Nailed it.

I highly recommend this title in any form. My only complaint is... I wish there was more. ;)