The Impulse Factor

Why Some of Us Play It Safe and Others Risk It All

By: Nick Tasler

Narrated by: Buck Schirner

Some people can take risks - move cross-country, switch careers, and give up everything to chase their dreams - with hardly a second thought. For others, looking before they leap is vital to making even simple decisions.

Nick Tasler, research and development director for cutting-edge think tank TalentSmart, turns conventional wisdom on its head by explaining that there are actually two factors that determine whether an individual will be impulsive or cautious. The first is genetic and depends largely on the presence of the novelty-seeking gene - a genetic mutation that encourages risky behavior. The second is Tasler's theory of Conditional Impulsivity, in which the gravity of a particular situation can trigger unusually risky responses from a catious person.

By combining global research with real-world examples of extreme decision-making, Tasler teaches us how to thrive when faced with difficult choices. More than just an audiobook, The Impulse Factor provides a clear understanding of why we make the choices we do - and the tools to turn those decisions into something great.

©2008 Nick Tasler (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Not Good

Some good ideas are not enough to overcome the poor writing and sometimes fuzzy logic of the Impulse Factor. Some thing I took away from the book are that 1 in 4 of us seem to carry the "novelty gene" - and that impulsive behavior can be extremely functional if harnessed in the right direction. Impulsive people can go far at work and have a significant impact on culture and business, where risk managing folks (like myself) are likely to act impulsively out of fear. I liked the connections to the social psychology and behavioral economics research (two of the main themes in my reading), although the tedious prose made this book work to get through.

Could use some help from Malcom Gladwell

This is not easy to follow and does not capture the interest of the reader.