Prudent Decision Making in an Imprudent World: Better Decisions at Home and Work

(Hardback)

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A practical guide to making better decisions in all aspects of life, based on extensive research and a wide range of historic and current examples. Combining clearly communicated research-based principles, a wealth of practical advice, and dozens of historic and contemporary examples of decision making (good and bad), Patrick Gould's Prudent Decision Making in an Imprudent World: Better Decisions at Home and Work gives readers a fresh new way to look at the way we make choices. What makes Gould's book both authoritative and compelling is its distinctive foundationprospect theoryderived from Amos Tversky and Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman's landmark research on "neuro-economic" decision making. Through the prism of prospect theorywhich explains why people make conservative decisions in some instances and reckless decisions in othersGould provides practical pathways to sound, timely judgments about relationships, family matters, careers, finances, and more. Time and again, throughout this concise but richly rewarding book, Gould demonstrates that understanding how and why people make choices is the first step toward making the best possible choices for ourselves.

Reviews

Gould is a retired US Marine officer and former educational researcher at the U. of Wisconsin, and he employs historical examples, researchbased principles and practical advice to help general readers identify and avoid bad decision-making skills. The author uses examples such as Napoleon's winter attack on Russia and the 1929 stock market crash to explain how qualities such as humility, self-discipline and critical analysis are instrumental to effective decision-making skills. Each chapter defines prudent decision-making skills in such specific realms as education, security and creativity. * Reference & Research Book News *
Prudent Decision Making reads more like thoughtful and critical analysis of decision-making than it does a guidebook or manua . . . While the book posits many conclusions that are already well established in the field of behavioral theory, the applications the author provides give life to the raw philosophy. Gould provides a chance for any decision-maker to reach better conclusions on a consistent basis. * Advisor Perspectives *

Author Bio

Patrick F. Gould is a retired U. S. Marine Corps officer and combat veteran who was an educational researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the past ten years. He is the founder of Major Decision Consulting, LLC, in Middleton, WI.