When I saw this book advertised I was stuck wrestling with a major career change decision. I had been worrying about making the right decision literally for months, as my whole future seemed to be at stake. I worked right through the book in a few days and came out with a range of options with which I am happy. Most importantly, I have greatly increased my confidence in my decision and am better able to articulate my reasoning. This confidence will help me come across well in interviews and improve my chances of getting the right job. I feel relaxed about moving to the next set of decisions- which company to work for.
I found this book accessible, practical and useful. Most impressive was its holistic approach to decision-making, ranging from solid theory (clearly presented with realistic examples you can relate to), through practical tips (like "remember that your decision cannot be better than your best alternative") to a well-presented chapter on psychological traps to which people often fall victim. You will recognize many of these from your experience at work.
The first five chapters should be readily understandable by anyone. The next four ("Tradeoffs", "Uncertainty", "Risk Tolerance" and "Linked Decisions") are more complex. Although the topics are explained in a prose style (with realistic examples) the material is unquestionably heavier going and requires careful study, particularly for someone who hasn't been exposed to decision trees and probability and statistics. I believe that anyone with some high school math will be OK- just be prepared to put your thinking hat on. It's worth the effort.
After reading this book you will have a toolkit that you can carry around with you to improve my decision-making. In the office, these techniques should help you work with your bosses and colleagues to reach better decisions and avoid some mistakes. In your life as a whole, you should make smarter decisions and be happier as a result.
