Every day is comprised of a constant stream of decisions, many of them unconscious, but each one shaping the direction a life can take. The Decision Book, already an international bestseller, provides an overview of 50 decision-making models. With the help of Mikael Krogerus, Swiss management consultant Roman Tschäppeler groups these models into chapters on self-improvement, increasing one's self understanding, coming to a better understanding of others and how to support others in improving themselves.
For those struggling to make hay of listing the pros and cons of a decision, for example, the "rubber band model" reframes a decision into looking at the positives of each alternative. Another model offers guidelines on deciding how much to spend on gifts commemorating various occasions. Along the way, Krogerous and Tschäppeler explain cognitive dissonance and Maslow's Heirarchy, along with theories that aren't necessarily "decision-making models" but can be applied to a greater understanding of some of the personal and societal forces that shape decision making. Their writing is concise, giving a clear summation of the various models. The Decision Book will lead curious readers to look further into ideas of particular interest in other places; it provides excellent frameworks of a wide range of useful methodologies. While some of the models present tongue-in-cheek subjective self-exploration, the book as a whole provides a valuable, straightforward set of guides for anyone interested in sociology, business or coming to a better sense of oneself. --Matthew Tiffany, counselor, writer for Condalmo