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Vote for which book I should do next.

Here are five ideas for my next book. Tell me which one you like best.

Thinking Without Bullshit: Embracing the Discipline of Analytical Thinking

Based on my 20 years as an analyst and my training in mathematics, I will describe the steps you need to take to think like an analyst. Will feature interviews and examples from analysts of all types, including industry analysts and financial analysts. Topics include how to fight bias, contrarian thinking, how to predict the future, simple mathematical analysis techniques that anyone can use, and business models for analysts.

Lies: A Brief History of Falsehood

What better way to fight bullshit than taking on the big lie? I begin with a detailed discussion of bias, half-truths, ignorant and knowing liars, and flat-out falsehood. Then I look at the most egregious historical lies and how they benefitted — or disadvantaged — the one who told them. Finally, I look at the way lies spread in the world of Facebook and fake news sites, and propose ways that each of us can prevent lies from taking over our world.

Hypocrisy: The Original Sin

“Do as I say, not as I do.” It’s the easiest way to take down a speaker: show that their conduct is the opposite of what they’re saying. That’s strange because hypocrisy is embedded into our souls — we are all hypocrites. I interview psychologists to identify the root causes of hypocrisy, then review the biggest historical hypocrites. Finally, I look at hypocrisy in the era of the big lie, using the 2016 presidential election as an example.

The Writing Without Bullshit Workbook

Practical examples and exercises for Writing Without Bullshit. Companion to the book. Ideal for college teaching and training classes.

Weight Loss and Wellness Without Bullshit: Establishing Habits That Create Permanent Change

There is only one way for an overweight person to create permanent, sustainable weight loss: through changing habits. This requires a holistic effort that goes way beyond food. In this book, I explain how people can change they way they eat, shop, cook, exercise, sleep, and interact with and get support from their loved ones. This is advice for the real world, including how to deal with restaurants, family holidays, and travel. Based on the principles developed by wellnesscampaign.org, with its impressive record of sustainable weight loss.

Vote below. I also look forward to your comments.

Which book would you be most likely to buy?
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12 Comments

  1. I voted for the workbook because I can use that asap for teaching – I hope you’ll do that regardless of the vote. The one I’d like most to READ is Analytical Thinking.
    Thanks,

    Mark

  2. I vote for the workbook too. It’s one thing to learn or be given concepts, rules and requirements. But the real learning comes from doing. And the real test of whether I learn is whether I can do. (For me that often means being able to teach or explain something to others. Your test may be something else.)

    If you can figure out how to monetize it, maybe your next project should be to create your workbook online. After all, you’re trying to teach writing on screens. Isn’t a screen a better place to practice, try and test?

  3. Josh –
    Thanks – great list. Do analytical thinking book, laden with how-to’s and examples.

    Why? This book would entice everyone who feels unprepared in a world of data, data bots, data people. Tons of folks in tech startups, media, marketing, product dev & mgt need this, for starters. It would help me!

  4. A toss up between Lies and Analytical Thinking. Lies is probably better for the mass market. If/when you do the Analytical Thinking book, consider adding a chapter about how to deal with people who reject your analytical thinking because to do so would create painful cognitive dissonance.

  5. I would/will buy all except the one on Wellness. My top 2 are “Thinking…” because it’s the most pertinent to what I do and the workbook because I have benefitted from reading the first book and would like to pass the techniques on to my collaborators.

  6. I voted for Thinking Without…, a logical extension to the series. Then you can do the workbook next and sell a bunch more of the first book.

  7. We live with ever-growing levels of deception, and it becomes more subtle with time and incident. In these times it happens so often that one almost becomes numb to it. No lie! How does one ferret out the truth? That’s why I’d like to see the Lie book written, followed by the hypocrisy one, as that was something I was able to identify in others while still at a young age, and before I even knew there was a word for it.

  8. I really enjoyed “Writing without bullshit. I have learnt a lot and will try to apply this in the future when writing in German (first language), English (used daily at work and privately) and Spanish (working towards fluency).

    I would love to see “Thinking without Bullshit”.
    And I would also like to see the other books 🙂