The Little Black Book of Decision Making book cover

The Little Black Book of Decision Making by Michael Nicholas Summary

The Little Black Book of Decision Making
Michael Nicholas
3.8 (122 Reviews)
Psychology
Productivity
Self-growth
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of The Little Black Book of Decision Making

In a world of decision paralysis, Michael Nicholas delivers a game-changing guide endorsed by top executives. Beyond logic, this 2017 bestseller reveals why mindfulness and emotional intelligence trump rational thinking alone. What crucial blind spot is sabotaging your choices right now?

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Key takeaways

1

When Your Brain Hijacks Your Best Decisions

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You're sitting in a meeting. Someone challenges your idea. Your chest tightens. Your mind races to defend yourself. Before you know it, you've dismissed their input entirely-not because it lacked merit, but because your brain decided they were a threat. Sound familiar? Every day, we make thousands of decisions, yet most of us have never learned the mechanics of making them well. In boardrooms and living rooms alike, intelligent people repeatedly choose poorly-not from lack of information, but because ancient survival circuits override modern reasoning. The gap between knowing what we should do and actually doing it reveals something uncomfortable: we're far less rational than we believe.

2

Why Smart People Make Catastrophic Choices

3

The Dangerous Myth of "What Worked Before"

4

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

5

The Reality You Create

6

The Ancient Brain in a Modern World

7

Reclaiming Your Mind

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@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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96
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4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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201
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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483

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