The Bed of Procrustes Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

Paperback (07 Jul 2011)

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Publisher's Synopsis

A condensed guide to life, Nassim Nicholas Taleb's The Bed of Procrustes is an invaluable collection of aphorisms to help you navigate the modern world.

Why are we so often unwilling to accept that life is unpredictable? In this brilliant book Nassim Nicholas Taleb distils his idiosyncratic wisdom to demolish our illusions, contrasting the classical values of courage, elegance and erudition against modern philistinism and phoniness. Only by accepting what we don't know, he shows, can we see the world as it really is.

'Happily provocative ... blistering ... his observations concern superiority, wealth, suckerdom, academia, modernity, technology and the all-purpose, ignorant "they" ... very quotable' The New York Times

'A master philosopher' The Times

'Taleb's crystalline nuggets of thought stand alone like esoteric poems' Financial Times

'Opinionated and witty ... It showcases his wit and learning, and provides ways to fillet his enemies' Independent on Sunday

About the Publisher

Penguin Books

The first ten paperback Penguin books appeared in 1935 costing 6d each (the price of a packet of cigarettes). Since then the Penguin list has developed enormously, but still aims to bring the best writing to the widest possible audience. Penguin Paperbacks now range from Booker Prize-winning contemporary authors, to mass market bestsellers, with successful history, biography and general non-fiction as well.

Book information

ISBN: 9780241954096
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Imprint: Penguin Books
Pub date:
DEWEY: 808.882
DEWEY edition: 22
Language: English
Number of pages: 112
Weight: 104g
Height: 197mm
Width: 130mm
Spine width: 9mm