Skin in the Game: Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life

The author of "The Black Swan" challenges long-held beliefs about risk and reward, politics and religion, finance and personal responsibility. He argues that too many people in the world don't have skin in the game, and that this applies to all aspects of our lives. Without it, fools and crooks will benefit, and their mistakes will never come back to haunt them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2019
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

From the bestselling author of The Black Swan, a bold book that challenges many of our long-held beliefs about risk and reward, politics and religion, finance and personal responsibility, comes a thought-provoking exploration of the world. Why should we never listen to people who explain rather than do? Why do companies go bust? How is it that we have more slaves today than in Roman times? Why does imposing democracy on other countries never work?

The answer lies in the lack of skin in the game among those who govern the world. In his inimitable, pugnacious style, Nassim Nicholas Taleb demonstrates that skin in the game applies to all aspects of our lives. It's about having something to lose and taking a risk. Citizens, lab experimenters, artisans, political activists, and hedge fund traders all have skin in the game. Policy wonks, corporate executives, theorists, bankers, and most journalists don't.

As Taleb asserts, "The symmetry of skin in the game is a simple rule that's necessary for fairness and justice, and the ultimate BS-buster, and Never trust anyone who doesn't have skin in the game." Without it, fools and crooks will benefit, and their mistakes will never come back to haunt them.

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex dynamics of the world and the importance of having a stake in the game. It challenges our assumptions and encourages us to think critically about the decisions we make and the systems we rely on. By understanding the principles of skin in the game, we can create a more equitable and just world for all.

Weight: 224g
Dimension: 196 x 132 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780141982656