Decisive
How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work
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Decisive
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Narrated by:
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Kaleo Griffith
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Written by:
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Chip Heath
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Dan Heath
About this listen
Chip and Dan Heath, the best-selling authors of Switch and Made to Stick, tackle one of the most critical topics in our work and personal lives: how to make better decisions.
Research in psychology has revealed that our decisions are disrupted by an array of biases and irrationalities: We’re overconfident. We seek out information that supports us and downplay information that doesn’t. We get distracted by short-term emotions. When it comes to making choices, it seems, our brains are flawed instruments. Unfortunately, merely being aware of these shortcomings doesn’t fix the problem, any more than knowing that we are nearsighted helps us to see. The real question is: How can we do better?
In Decisive, the Heaths, based on an exhaustive study of the decision-making literature, introduce a four-step process designed to counteract these biases. Written in an engaging and compulsively listenable style, Decisive takes readers on an unforgettable journey, from a rock star’s ingenious decision-making trick to a CEO’s disastrous acquisition, to a single question that can often resolve thorny personal decisions.
Along the way, we learn the answers to critical questions such as these: How can we stop the cycle of agonizing over our decisions? How can we make group decisions without destructive politics? And how can we ensure that we don’t overlook precious opportunities to change our course?
Decisive is the Heath brothers’ most powerful - and important - book yet, offering fresh strategies and practical tools enabling us to make better choices. Because the right decision, at the right moment, can make all the difference.
©2013 Chip Heath and Dan Heath (P)2013 Random House AudioYou may also enjoy...
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 20
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A clear, practical, first-of-its-kind guide to communicating and understanding numbers and data - from best-selling business author Chip Heath.
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3 out of 5 stars
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- By Ryan James on 2023-06-10
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Switch
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- Written by: Dan Heath, Chip Heath
- Narrated by: Charles Kahlenberg
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 161
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 130
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 129
Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives? The primary obstacle is a conflict that's built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed best seller Made to Stick. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems - the rational mind and the emotional mind - that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie.
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5 out of 5 stars
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worth several listens!
- By Renee on 2021-01-23
Written by: Dan Heath, and others
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Upstream
- The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen
- Written by: Dan Heath
- Narrated by: Dan Heath
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 68
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 68
New York Times best-selling author Dan Heath examines how to prevent problems before they happen, drawing on insights from his innovative behavior research, as well as hundreds of new interviews with unconventional problem solvers. Most of us spend our days handling a deluge of pressing issues. We’re so accustomed to managing emergencies as they strike that we often don’t stop to think about how we could prevent crises before they happen. Why stop at treating the symptoms when you could develop a cure?
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1 out of 5 stars
-
Boring and unoriginal
- By HM on 2022-07-26
Written by: Dan Heath
-
Made to Stick
- Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
- Written by: Chip Heath, Dan Heath
- Narrated by: Charles Kahlenberg
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 155
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 131
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 130
In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the human scale principle, using the Velcro Theory of Memory, and creating curiosity gaps. Along the way, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds—from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony—draw their power from the same six traits.
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3 out of 5 stars
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too much fluff
- By Par on 2021-06-22
Written by: Chip Heath, and others
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The Great Mental Models
- General Thinking Concepts
- Written by: Shane Parrish
- Narrated by: Shane Parrish
- Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 292
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 241
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 238
The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts is the first book in The Great Mental Models series designed to upgrade your thinking with the best, most useful and powerful tools so you always have the right one on hand. This volume details nine of the most versatile all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making, your productivity, and how clearly you see the world.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Great information let down by the narration
- By Jason on 2019-04-27
Written by: Shane Parrish
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Thinking in Bets
- Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts
- Written by: Annie Duke
- Narrated by: Annie Duke
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 253
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 205
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 205
In Super Bowl XLIX, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll made one of the most controversial calls in football history: With 26 seconds remaining, and trailing by four at the Patriots' one-yard line, he called for a pass instead of a handing off to his star running back. The pass was intercepted, and the Seahawks lost. Critics called it the dumbest play in history. But was the call really that bad? Or did Carroll actually make a great move that was ruined by bad luck? Even the best decision doesn't yield the best outcome every time.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good book
- By Anonymous User on 2020-06-15
Written by: Annie Duke
-
Making Numbers Count
- The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers
- Written by: Chip Heath, Karla Starr
- Narrated by: Kathe Mazur
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 20
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 20
A clear, practical, first-of-its-kind guide to communicating and understanding numbers and data - from best-selling business author Chip Heath.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Great book, but get a physical copy instead
- By Ryan James on 2023-06-10
Written by: Chip Heath, and others
-
Switch
- How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
- Written by: Dan Heath, Chip Heath
- Narrated by: Charles Kahlenberg
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 161
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 130
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 129
Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives? The primary obstacle is a conflict that's built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed best seller Made to Stick. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems - the rational mind and the emotional mind - that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
worth several listens!
- By Renee on 2021-01-23
Written by: Dan Heath, and others
-
Upstream
- The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen
- Written by: Dan Heath
- Narrated by: Dan Heath
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 68
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 68
New York Times best-selling author Dan Heath examines how to prevent problems before they happen, drawing on insights from his innovative behavior research, as well as hundreds of new interviews with unconventional problem solvers. Most of us spend our days handling a deluge of pressing issues. We’re so accustomed to managing emergencies as they strike that we often don’t stop to think about how we could prevent crises before they happen. Why stop at treating the symptoms when you could develop a cure?
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Boring and unoriginal
- By HM on 2022-07-26
Written by: Dan Heath
-
Made to Stick
- Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
- Written by: Chip Heath, Dan Heath
- Narrated by: Charles Kahlenberg
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 155
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 131
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 130
In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the human scale principle, using the Velcro Theory of Memory, and creating curiosity gaps. Along the way, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds—from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony—draw their power from the same six traits.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
too much fluff
- By Par on 2021-06-22
Written by: Chip Heath, and others
-
The Great Mental Models
- General Thinking Concepts
- Written by: Shane Parrish
- Narrated by: Shane Parrish
- Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 292
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 241
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 238
The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts is the first book in The Great Mental Models series designed to upgrade your thinking with the best, most useful and powerful tools so you always have the right one on hand. This volume details nine of the most versatile all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making, your productivity, and how clearly you see the world.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Great information let down by the narration
- By Jason on 2019-04-27
Written by: Shane Parrish
-
Thinking in Bets
- Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts
- Written by: Annie Duke
- Narrated by: Annie Duke
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 253
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 205
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 205
In Super Bowl XLIX, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll made one of the most controversial calls in football history: With 26 seconds remaining, and trailing by four at the Patriots' one-yard line, he called for a pass instead of a handing off to his star running back. The pass was intercepted, and the Seahawks lost. Critics called it the dumbest play in history. But was the call really that bad? Or did Carroll actually make a great move that was ruined by bad luck? Even the best decision doesn't yield the best outcome every time.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good book
- By Anonymous User on 2020-06-15
Written by: Annie Duke
What listeners say about Decisive
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Colten Allinger
- 2018-05-11
Valuable research and examples
Great content based on scientific method with easily digestible examples and help putting into action. Impressed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Immanuel
- 2018-08-30
Immediately realized current areas to apply ideas.
I chose to read this book in anticipation of the career positions I foresee for my myself in the next couple of years, where I expect I'll be relied on for decision making. (and because, well, it's by the Heath brothers) But as the concepts and stories unfold, boy was I surprised at the realisation of current situations where I can apply the ideas learned now. Mostly in helping others make decisions, but some in making own decisions. Some examples/stories reminded me of previously made decisions, reflecting on the process used and the outcome. Big e.g. Near the end of the book, I realised that I'm still in my decision-making process to move towards the career positions mentioned above, and seems to be on the right path: I had intuitively widened my options, ooched, and done (only) the last "10" of the 10/10/10 rule. Now to actually follow the rest of advices as addressed in the book. I chose Decisive for future application, soon realizing I needed it for the decision into THAT future.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laura
- 2021-03-15
Tangible Steps to test for success and failure
Very helpful process, steps and marks for every kind of decision. Great resource to go back to!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- credit
- 2019-12-10
Vademecum for people that want next level
Loved it! got a copy of real book because it is so packed full of goodness that you really need to read it AND listen to it!! Not always easy to move through, but so much packed with valuable that is well worth the effort on the slower parts. The authors did an amazing job at "translating" a lot of data into "normal, day to day"language. not an easy task for sure. This would be best with an accompaining downloadable workbook.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Taha Babikir
- 2024-12-24
Great narration, spot on book!
The book is so awesome I felt bad when there was 2 hours left. It’s very crisp.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Ahmed
- 2019-09-10
Nice book
It is a nice book with some some good and nice insights, moderately recommended 👍👍👍
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