“The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.”

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”

Build frameworks to simplify decision-making. Mental models, like opportunity cost or second-order thinking, help you assess situations quickly and effectively.

Create Mental Models

Short-term decisions often create long-term problems. Prioritize strategies that lead to lasting success, even if they require patience and discipline.

Focus on Long-Term Thinking

Life is unpredictable. Make decisions based on odds rather than absolutes, and prepare for multiple outcomes instead of expecting guarantees.

Think in Probabilities, Not Certainties

Break complex problems into their fundamental truths. Start with facts instead of assumptions to find clear, practical solutions.

Focus on First Principles

Strong emotions can cloud judgment. Practice emotional detachment to evaluate situations objectively and avoid impulsive reactions.

Avoid Emotional Hijacking

Your brain has limited capacity. Prioritize high-value decisions and automate or delegate the rest. Simplify where possible to reduce mental fatigue.

Manage Your Mental Energy

Not all information is useful. Focus only on data that directly impacts your decision-making process. Ignore distractions and irrelevant details.

Separate Signal from Noise

Rushed decisions often lead to mistakes. Pause to gather information, analyze options, and let emotions settle before acting. Clarity comes from patience.

Slow Down Your Thinking

“In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”

Shane Parrish’s “Clear Thinking” provides tools to master decisions, cut through noise, and make deliberate, impactful choices. It’s a roadmap to thinking smarter, not harder, in every area of life.

The instant New York Times bestseller 'An indispensable guide' James Clear, author of Atomic Habits 'A game-changer' Morgan Housel, author of The Psychology of Money 'A must-read' Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck 'A masterwork' Ryan Holiday, author of The Daily Stoic We all want to see the world clearly. The trouble is, we're never taught how. Join Shane Parrish - 'the former spy who helps Wall Street mavens think smarter' (New York Times) - for a masterclass in the art of clear thinking. Drawing on examples ranging from the evolutionary origins of our 'emotion default' to the secret history of the Challenger disaster, Parrish offers powerful mental models to make sense of any situation. And he reveals a simple, actionable method for smarter decision-making, starting today. Along the way, he shows that the secret to mental clarity lies not in how we approach the most high-stakes moments - but in our tiniest, most everyday decisions. It's a simple idea with startling implications: if you clear your head today, you change your life tomorrow. _ 'Incisive. Practical. Full of vivid examples, and enormously fun to read.' Jim Collins, author of Good to Great 'Shane Parrish doesn't just teach clear thinking - he lives it.' Adam Grant, author of Originals 'If you want results - good ones - that you can achieve confidently again and again, read this book.' Annie Duke, author of Quit

Manage Your Mental Energy

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18. Not Conserving Your Brain Power

Describing mental fatigue

Manage Your Mental Energy