Author: James Surowiecki
Date: 19-June-2004
In this endlessly fascinating book, New Yorker columnist James Surowiecki explores a deceptively simple idea that has profound implications: large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant. Groups are better at solving problems, fostering innovation, coming to wise decisions, even predicting the future.
This seemingly counterintuitive notion has endless and major ramifications for how businesses operate, how knowledge is advanced, how economies are (or should be) organized and how we live our daily lives. With seemingly boundless erudition and in delightfully clear prose, Surowiecki ranges across fields as diverse as popular culture, psychology, economic behaviorism, artificial intelligence, military history, and political theory to show just how this principle operates in the real world.
Despite the sophistication of his arguments, Surowiecki presents them in a wonderfully entertaining manner. The examples he uses are all down-to-earth, surprising, and fun to ponder. Why is the line in which you’re standing always the longest? Why is it that you can buy a screw anywhere in the world and it will fit a bolt bought ten-thousand miles away? Why is network television so awful? If you had to meet someone in Paris on a specific day but had no way of contacting them, when and where would you meet? Why are there traffic jams? What’s the best way to win money on a game show? Why, when you walk into a convenience store at 2:00 A.M. to buy a quart of orange juice, is it there waiting for you? What do Hollywood mafia movies have to teach us about why corporations exist?
The Wisdom of Crowds is a brilliant but accessible biography of an idea, one with important lessons for how we live our lives, select our leaders, conduct our business, and think about our world.
My Thoughts: Like this read. Some of the premise require a bit to absorb, but by and large it is a pretty good write – would definitely recommend.
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Just a simply guy who sees goodness in most and constantly in search of all that is beautiful, good, and true. I have very few hangups, save the fact that I am fiercely intolerant of BS and people who deal in delusions. I consider myself unselfish, always ready to give a hand when I see the need. I am also equally unforgiving of those who take advantage of the goodness of others. Learning is a passion of mine. My primary field is Mathematics, but my passion goes well beyond that. I read a great deal, I also enjoy Philosophy, History, Computing/Technology and Contemporary World Affairs (mainly Politico-Military). I am pretty guarded with my privacy, but you can learn more about me by hitting the button at the top - "All About Me" and you can hit me up on Skype...my username is "Rupdawg" or check me out at any of my Social links under "Don't Stalk Me" below.
