Short Stuff: Colorful Noises

Why do two similar people, convicted of the same crime, receive drastically different sentences? Why does one job candidate get hired when an equally qualified candidate isn’t even interviewed? The answer, according to Daniel Kahneman (Thinking, Fast and Slow), Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein (Nudge), is noise—unexpected and unwanted variance in human judgments. Kahneman, Sibony, and Sunstein argue that understanding and counteracting this kind of noise is key to improving the judgments that affect some of the most important aspects of our lives, including our justice system, medical care, education, and business decisions.

Drawing on decades of research and their own experiences as noise consultants, the authors explain what noise is, where it comes from, and how we can reduce it to make our world more fair and consistent. In this guide, we’ll elaborate on the concept of noise by connecting it to the authors’ previous work and to similar ideas in fields ranging from financial trading to baseball scouting.

Do you ever wonder why you feel so serene sitting at the beach, watching the waves? You’re likely experiencing Blue Mind. In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols argues that water has a profound impact on our well-being and health because it induces a calming, meditative state, which he calls the Blue Mind state. He explains that we’re naturally attracted to water because of how it aided our survival in the past and that we still derive benefits from water today. Nichols is a research associate and co-director of multiple environmental organizations.

In our guide, we’ll explore why humans are so attracted to water and describe the ways it reduces stress and allows the mind to heal. We’ll also discuss why it appeals to our senses, such as sight and hearing, and look at different ways of being in or around water. We’ll conclude by exploring society’s relationship with water and how it might be improved. We’ll add scientific and social context for Nichols’s ideas and discuss alternatives to the tips he offers.

Why do two similar people, convicted of the same crime, receive drastically different sentences? Why does one job candidate get hired when an equally qualified candidate isn’t even interviewed? The answer, according to Daniel Kahneman (Thinking, Fast and Slow), Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein (Nudge), is noise—unexpected and unwanted variance in human judgments. Kahneman, Sibony, and Sunstein argue that understanding and counteracting this kind of noise is key to improving the judgments that affect some of the most important aspects of our lives, including our justice system, medical care, education, and business decisions.

Drawing on decades of research and their own experiences as noise consultants, the authors explain what noise is, where it comes from, and how we can reduce it to make our world more fair and consistent. In this guide, we’ll elaborate on the concept of noise by connecting it to the authors’ previous work and to similar ideas in fields ranging from financial trading to baseball scouting.

Since humans first looked up, we’ve wondered about our place in the cosmos, yet everything we’ve learned has shown that our ignorance still outstrips our knowledge. While to some that may seem disheartening, science educator Neil deGrasse Tyson finds it exciting to know there’s so much left in the universe to discover. The study of astrophysics, he says, gives us a valuable perspective on ourselves while revealing the nature of the universe in which we live.

Tyson explains in layman’s terms how physicists use the fundamentals of science and the full range of visible and invisible light to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. He then goes on to cover the three biggest mysteries in astrophysics today—the origin of the universe, dark matter, and dark energy—while making a case for the benefits of understanding where we fit in the universal scheme. In this guide, we’ll also provide the historical context for astronomy’s groundbreaking discoveries and explain in more depth the current theories that are guiding astrophysics’ progress.

What if you could understand anything in the world by learning a finite set of rules and patterns that apply to all aspects of life? That’s the premise of The Great Mental Models series of books from Farnam Street, a website dedicated to timeless knowledge and insightful ideas.

In this second volume in the Great Mental Models series, Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish draw on models from physics, chemistry, and biology to help readers understand personal and social change as well as competitive environments such as business. They explore topics including how social change is like a chemical reaction and how the theory of relativity can help you understand somebody you disagree with.

In this guide, we organize the book’s models around the themes of movement and change, interpersonal interaction, and surviving and thriving in a competitive world. Along the way, we expand on the models by tying in related ideas and showing you how to put the book’s models into practice.

In Sleep Smarter, Shawn Stevenson asserts that high-quality sleep is the key to a healthier body, sharper mind, and overall increased quality of life. He provides a wide array of practical suggestions to help us achieve a good night’s sleep, incorporating nutrition, exercise, sleep habits, and aspects of our environment.

Stevenson is an educator, author, and professional nutritionist in the health and wellness field. He hosts the nutrition and fitness podcast “The Model Health Show” and also wrote Eat Smarter, a cookbook designed to help families eat healthier.

In this guide, we’ll explore the importance of sleep, the role of circadian rhythms, the impact of your sleep environment, and the unexpected benefits of sweet potatoes. In our commentary, we’ll explore more of the science behind why these strategies work, as well as some caveats when the research has produced mixed results.