Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions

They explain how to have better hunches and when to leave things to chance, how to deal with overwhelming choices and how best to connect with others. And the solutions they've found have much to teach us.In a dazzlingly interdisciplinary work, acclaimed author Brian Christian and cognitive scientist Tom Griffiths show how the simple, precise algorithms used by computers can also untangle very human questions. From finding a spouse to finding a parking spot, from organizing one's inbox to understanding the workings of human memory, Algorithms to Live By transforms the wisdom of computer science into strategies for human living.. A fascinating exploration of how computer algorithms can be applied to our everyday lives, helping to solve common decision-making problems and illuminate the workings of the human mindAll our lives are constrained by limited space and time, limits that give rise to a particular set of problems. What should we do, or leave undone, in a day or a lifetime? How much messiness should we accept? What balance of new activities and familiar favorites is the most fulfilling? These may seem like uniquely human quandaries, but they are not: computers, too, face the same constraints, so computer scientists have been grappling with their version of such problems for decades

He has published more than 150 scientific papers on topics ranging from cognitive psychology to cultural evolution, and has received awards from the National Science Foundation, the Sloan Foundation, the American Psychological Association, and the Psychonomic Society, among others. . He lives in Berkeley. Brian Christian is the author of The Most Human Human, a Wall Street Journal bestseller, New York Times editors’ choice, and a New Yor

“A remarkable book A solid, research-based book that’s applicable to real life. And it’s a fascinating exploration of the workings of computer science and the human mind. It’s well worth the time to find a copy of Algorithms to Live By and dig deeper.”Forbes“By the end of the book, I was convinced. Recommended.”Popular Science (UK)“An entertaining, intelligently presented book Craftily programmed to build from one good idea to the next The value of being aware of algorithmic thinkingof the thornier details of ‘human algorithm design,’ as Christian and Griffiths put itis not just better problem solving, but also greater insight into the human mind. Whether you want to optimize your to-do list, orga

Shiri Dori-Hacohen said Great book, disagreed with a few points, overall awesome. [The original title of this review was: "Great book, though a few inaccuracies & bold claims". See below for two updates on the review and why I changed the title.]I'm a little over halfway with this recently published book, which I'm really enjoying so far - and I expect to enjoy it all the way to the end. A lot of great and unexpected insights here, and it seems that the authors did a good job explaining extremely complex algorithms and showing their applicability to real life (though it's hard for me to tell how good their explanations are to a . Michael S. said Great book on real world problems solved by computer science. Despite being an East-coaster, I'm a member of the Long Now Foundation, which--when I'm asked to describe it--I usually say is like TED, but with a long term view and way better substance. The Long Now gives regular talks, and then puts those talks up in video and audio form for others, who couldn't be in attendance. I subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, and listen to it--along with other podcasts--on my way to and from work.A few months ago, Brian Christian was the guest speaker, and gave a talk centered around the subject matter of his latest boo. A superior guide to the science of living well Ed R The most thoughtful and meaningful book I have read since Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking Fast and Slow”. It extends that work by detailing the extensive computer science research that has been done which illuminates those techniques (i.e., algorithms) that support our brain’s natural capabilities in order to make the best possible life decisions. It shows when it pays to be precise and rigorous and when the best choices can be made by less stringent analyses. And where “winging it” or ‘using gut feelings&rsquo