Eyes Wide Open

How to Make Smart Decisions in a Confusing World

By: Noreena Hertz

Narrated by: Noreena Hertz

This game-changing book empowers readers to become confident, independent, wise decision-makers— savvy to how our emotions, moods, and habits can trip us up.

An investor wonders whether to put his money into the stock market or to keep it in a savings account. A patient is torn between opting for surgery and trying an experimental drug therapy. A college-bound student questions whether to take on debt to attend an Ivy League school or to choose a public institution with low tuition.

We face momentous decisions with important consequences throughout our lives. We have never had better access to information and expertise, yet this data deluge has become a double-edged sword. Which sources of information are credible? How can we separate the signal from the noise? Whose advice can we trust?

All of these questions are reasons for us to become empowered decision-makers capable of making high-stakes choices ourselves. Whether you are a politician, a businessperson, a professional, or a parent, now is the time to take a radically different approach. In Eyes Wide Open, the bestselling author and visionary thinker Noreena Hertz shares insights from the latest research along with practical advice, including

• why looking at information in black and white rather than in color can lead to better decisions

• why it's smart to be skeptical about experts' pronouncements, and how to identify the best among them

• why it's crucial to carve out time to think, even in moments of crisis

• how and why you should regulate your emotional thermostat to make smart decisions

• why you need to shake up your social network if you don't want only to reinforce what you already know and amplify the beliefs you already have

It's time to make decisions with our eyes wide open—for the sake of our health, our wealth, and our future security.

Unique and insightful

I fell in love with the work of Noreena Hertz when I read her newest book The Lonely Century, and she quickly became one of my new favorite psychology authors. As someone who loves to read books on thinking flaws and decision making, I was ecstatic when I found out that she had another book called Eyes Wide Open, which is all about this subject. I've personally read dozens of books on this subject, so it's difficult to provide me with a new perspective or different spin on research, but Noreena nailed it. Just like in The Lonely Century, Noreena has an ability to fill in the gaps that other authors leave open while also providing a unique view on these interesting subjects. If you want to become a better decision maker, you need this book ASAP.