Reviews
Algorithms to Live by: The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Tom Griffiths, Brian Christian
matty_icey's review
4.0
This was an awesome book about the underlying algorithms in our world. Favorite parts:
Everyone rises to their own level of incompetence. Once you get to a level where you aren’t good at something, you don’t advance because you aren’t worthy of it, and thus are stuck. One can conclude that we are all doing what we are not great at.
On marriage: “If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If the prisoner isn’t, why pretend he is?” - George Shaw
On when you should stop looking for a better deal, parking spot, home, or job applicant: Stop after you’ve collected 30% of the data you want and then take the next one that is the best you’ve seen. Or take anything above your baseline average. This is scientifically your best odds at getting the best option. See the secretary dilemma.
Sometimes just relaxing one or two constraints can make things much easier. If you you want the perfect “whatever” let’s say vacation, then research planning etc is going to take time. But a good vacation may be just intuitive and take no time at all to plan without the hassle. Good is better than perfect.
You can beat computers in chess by playing the clock and after grid locking the board making random movements. The computer wastes time trying to figure out what your ever changing strategy is and loses by running out of time. This is assuming you can avoid getting check mated while making fast non-sensical moves. I loved this ha.
Everyone rises to their own level of incompetence. Once you get to a level where you aren’t good at something, you don’t advance because you aren’t worthy of it, and thus are stuck. One can conclude that we are all doing what we are not great at.
On marriage: “If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If the prisoner isn’t, why pretend he is?” - George Shaw
On when you should stop looking for a better deal, parking spot, home, or job applicant: Stop after you’ve collected 30% of the data you want and then take the next one that is the best you’ve seen. Or take anything above your baseline average. This is scientifically your best odds at getting the best option. See the secretary dilemma.
Sometimes just relaxing one or two constraints can make things much easier. If you you want the perfect “whatever” let’s say vacation, then research planning etc is going to take time. But a good vacation may be just intuitive and take no time at all to plan without the hassle. Good is better than perfect.
You can beat computers in chess by playing the clock and after grid locking the board making random movements. The computer wastes time trying to figure out what your ever changing strategy is and loses by running out of time. This is assuming you can avoid getting check mated while making fast non-sensical moves. I loved this ha.
jinwooooo's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
I thought it would be more specific CS algorithms application to real world, but it was more general abstract ideas.
statman's review
3.0
I guess I'm geeky about data and algorithms but I did enjoy this take on rational ways that we could make decisions and the comparison to how we actually make them. We are not necessarily as rational and logical in our decision making. We could be more optimal but in real life we are actually doing pretty well with the complexity that we have to deal with, which comes from the complex ways that we think and interact with each other.
sudhahariharan's review
4.0
In our day to day lives, we encounter a lot of problems. From meal planning to looking for the perfect parking spot, from picking a good restaurant to planning that perfect travel itinerary, from making the right investment plans to sorting out your bookshelf - this book has optimal solutions for all this and more!
Brian Christian is a programmer and researcher who has collaborated with cognitive scientist and professor Tom Griffiths to bring the complex world of Algorithms in relation to our lives. The book begins with the optimal stopping problem discussing the famous Secretary Problem. If you want to hire a secretary, don't hire the first person you interview and don't wait till you have interviewed everyone. The optimal strategy is to interview and reject the first 37% of the applications and then hire the next one better than anyone you have seen. The same thing applies to Tinder as well. Just reject the first 37% and you might find the love of your life. Interesting, isn't it? There are chapters on Sorting, scheduling, and Caching which are equally intriguing. I liked the chapter on Randomness the best. The chapter explained randomness in a very uncomplicated manner and ended with a discussion on evolution and creativity.
As a software professional, I found it fascinating to read the wide-reaching applications of algorithms in our daily problem-solving. This book provides a lot of insights and knowledge that you can apply in your lives. Definitely a good read.
Brian Christian is a programmer and researcher who has collaborated with cognitive scientist and professor Tom Griffiths to bring the complex world of Algorithms in relation to our lives. The book begins with the optimal stopping problem discussing the famous Secretary Problem. If you want to hire a secretary, don't hire the first person you interview and don't wait till you have interviewed everyone. The optimal strategy is to interview and reject the first 37% of the applications and then hire the next one better than anyone you have seen. The same thing applies to Tinder as well. Just reject the first 37% and you might find the love of your life. Interesting, isn't it? There are chapters on Sorting, scheduling, and Caching which are equally intriguing. I liked the chapter on Randomness the best. The chapter explained randomness in a very uncomplicated manner and ended with a discussion on evolution and creativity.
As a software professional, I found it fascinating to read the wide-reaching applications of algorithms in our daily problem-solving. This book provides a lot of insights and knowledge that you can apply in your lives. Definitely a good read.
keithsdiary's review
3.0
it was good & i learned some fun new things about CS & daily life, but the book was somewhat boring.
pcothenet's review against another edition
5.0
Thought provoking without being overly complex. Scientific without being robotic. Right length. Very enjoyable.
lillyrb's review
5.0
best book I've read this year. it has genuinely opened my eyes to the world of computer science and it has great applicability in your own life. a lot of the principles explained in the book can be used to explain so many phenomena it is actually crazy.
demonxore's review
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
4.25
Up until the last chapter, I was planning to rate Algorithms to Live By at three out of five stars. The book is filled with poignant descriptions of algorithmic devices that we (mostly unknowingly) use in everyday life, and the explanations are simple enough to be understood by any layperson. Unfortunately the first half of the book put a bad taste in my mouth with its "by male redditors, for male redditors" tone, but the last 50ish pages on game theory, mechanism design (i.e. "reverse game theory" ), information cascades, Vickrey auctions, and the revelation principle really blew me away. The well-developed conclusion claims that even though we all want to escape the brutal rat race wherein folks take advantage of others at every turn, there is still hope. We can still change many aspects of the game to transform the dominant strategy into one that is based on honesty. I'm super glad I didn't throw this in the DNF pile.