I’ve been told more than a few times that I’m not the world’s most patient man. My default mind-set tends to lean towards action over inertia.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not convinced that that’s entirely bad, but I know that I can and should probably contemplate certain things a bit more than I do. Maybe I should let system 2 occasionally dominate system 1.
Against this backdrop, I recently read Wait (affiliate link) by Frank Partnoy and I’m glad that I did. In an era of constant information and connectivity, the pressure to act, do to something, never seems to end. While books like Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (affiliate link) espouse the virtues of immediate action and trusting your instinct, this book asks important questions like, “What are the benefits of not acting?”
Use a wide variety of interesting case studies that include sports, the military, etc., Partnoy makes a compelling that we shouldn’t just do something; we should stand there. I enjoyed how the author weaved in real-world examples with academic research.
This is easily one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read this year. I heartily recommend reading it. It has made a significant impact on me and I want to read more from this author.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the publisher, Public Affairs.
I personally loved the book Blink, and thought it was incredibly well written! I think I’ll have to give this one a try too though. How long did it take you to read it?
A couple of days. I found it really compelling. Thanks for the comment.