Why I'm Reading This
As a product manager, understanding how people make decisions is crucial. This book by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman explores the cognitive biases that affect our thinking.
What I've Learned So Far
System 1 vs System 2
- System 1: Fast, automatic, emotional
- System 2: Slow, deliberate, logical
Most of our decisions are made by System 1, even when we think we're being rational.
Applying to Product Work
The concept of cognitive ease is fascinating. People prefer things that are easy to process:
- Clear, simple interfaces
- Familiar patterns
- Readable fonts and layouts
This explains why user testing often reveals issues that seem "obvious" to users but weren't to the product team. We're too deep in System 2 mode, while users are in System 1.
Progress Notes
Currently on Chapter 8: "How Judgments Happen". The section on availability heuristic explains why people overestimate risks they've recently heard about. This has implications for how we present information in products.
Reflections
This is a dense read, but every chapter offers practical insights for understanding user behavior. Planning to finish by end of January.