Book Reading #50: Why We Make Mistakes

Reference Information

Title: Why We Make Mistakes

Author: Joseph T. Hallinan

Publisher: 2009 Crown Archetype

Chapter 12: We Don't Constrain Ourselves
Summary
This chapter discussed constraints and affordances and how they can be used to eliminate errors. Selecting things that are easily recognizable, eliminating uncertainty, simplifying things, and determining the source of error can all be used to reduce error. A person's attitude plays a large role in the occurrence of mistakes, since overconfidence is a large cause of error.


Discussion
I thought the comparison of doctors vs. aviators established the author's point very well, and many of the examples were interesting. However, the beginning of the chapter sounded like it was coming straight out of a Norman book, with the discussion of constraints and affordances. The author even used many of the same examples that Norman used in Design of Everyday Things.


Chapter 13: The Grass Does Look Greener
Summary
This chapter discussed the tendency of people to be unable to accurately predict how they will feel about things that happen in the future, leading to projection bias with gift cards and rebates. People focus on the wrong details when making decisions, exaggerating the importance of individual factors and ignoring the major factors. Personal happiness does not require much, and people often have a difficult time judging the happiness of others.


Discussion
I thought this chapter was very interesting. I especially liked the comparison between people in northern states wanting to move to California because they thought it would be better, when in reality they were only focusing on things like weather and not important things like cost of living.


Conclusion
Summary
The conclusion summarized the mistakes discussed throughout the book and offered solutions to prevent mistakes. These included thinking small, thinking negatively (considering what bad consequences could happen), letting non-experts take part in things, disregarding habits, slowing down, and getting some sleep. The affect of happiness was discussed, including the fact that people that are happier increase their tendency to see relations between material and overcome habits. Finally, the author suggested that money is not the currency of life, but time.


Discussion
I liked the suggestion to think negatively. Growing up, I was always taught to "plan for the worst, but hope for the best" so that every negative consequence of an action would be considered. I believe that this is a good way to think, since it eliminates overconfidence and therefore error. I also liked how all of the major examples discussed throughout the book were mentioned to remind the reader of everything that was discussed.