Book : The Wisdom Of Crowds - Surowiecki, James

-Titulo Original : The Wisdom Of Crowds

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-Descripcion Original:

From Publishers Weekly While our culture generally trusts experts and distrusts the wisdom of the masses, New Yorker business columnist Surowiecki argues that under the right circumstances, groups are remarkably intelligent, and are often smarter than the smartest people in them. To support this almost counterintuitive proposition, Surowiecki explores problems involving cognition (were all trying to identify a correct answer), coordination (we need to synchronize our individual activities with others) and cooperation (we have to act together despite our self-interest). His rubric, then, covers a range of problems, including driving in traffic, competing on TV game shows, maximizing stock market performance, voting for political candidates, navigating busy sidewalks, tracking SARS and designing Internet search engines like Google. If four basic conditions are met, a crowds collective intelligence will produce better outcomes than a small group of experts, Surowiecki says, even if members of the crowd dont know all the facts or choose, individually, to act irrationally. Wise crowds need (1) diversity of opinion; (2) independence of members from one another; (3) decentralization; and (4) a good method for aggregating opinions. The diversity brings in different information; independence keeps people from being swayed by a single opinion leader; peoples errors balance each other out; and including all opinions guarantees that the results are smarter than if a single expert had been in charge. Surowieckis style is pleasantly informal, a tactical disguise for what might otherwise be rather dense material. He offers a great introduction to applied behavioral economics and game theory. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. In this fascinating book, New Yorker business columnist James Surowiecki explores a deceptively simple idea: Large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant-better at solving problems, fostering innovation, coming to wise decisions, even predicting the future. With boundless erudition and in delightfully clear prose, Surowiecki ranges across fields as diverse as popular culture, psychology, ant biology, behavioral economics, artificial intelligence, military history, and politics to show how this simple idea offers important lessons for how we live our lives, select our leaders, run our companies, and think about our world. Review “As entertaining and thought-provoking as The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.... The Wisdom of Crowds ranges far and wide.” -The Boston Globe“A fun, intriguing read-and a concept with enormous potential for CEOs and politicos alike.” -Newsweek“This book is not just revolutionary but essential reading for everyone.”-Christian Science Monitor“Provocative....Musters ample proof that the payoff from heeding collective intelligence is greater than many of us imagine.” -BusinessWeek“There’s no danger of dumbing down for the masses who read this singular book.” -Entertainment Weekly“Clearly and persuasively written.” -Newsday“Convincingly argues that under the right circumstances, it’s the crowd that’s wiser than even society’s smartest individuals. New Yorker business columnist Surowiecki enlivens his argument with dozens of illuminating anecdotes and case studies from business, social psychology, sports and everyday life.” -Entertainment Weekly“The author has a knack for translating the most algebraic of research papers into bright expository prose.” -The New York Times Book ReviewDazzling . . . one of those books that will turn your world upside down. Its an adventure story, a manifesto, and the most brilliant book on business, society, and everyday life that Ive read in years. -Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point “Surowiecki’s clear writing and well-chosen examples render complicated mathematical and sociological theories easy to grasp.