NotSoWrong aims to provide a network of interconnected, multidisciplinary ideas and explanations to help us systematically eliminate error in our lives and careers.
Browse the full library of NotSoWrong articles below, organized by primary topic area. Jump to: Systems Thinking | Logic & Science | Mathematical Thinking | Statistical Thinking | Physics | Biology | Computer Science
Systems Thinking
Complex Systems: Why simple solutions don’t work
Feedback Loops: When in doubt, map it out (and you should doubt)
Emergence: More is different, very different
Leverage Points: The secrets to systemic change
Dynamic Equilibrium: Balance, wobbling on the edge of chaos
Scale: The only way to change the world
Logic & Science
Critical Rationalism: An un-sexy term for the literal way we achieve progress
Abstraction: Wrong models are extremely useful
Scientific Method: Why the world doesn’t speak Chinese
Counterfactual Thinking: Think like a robot can’t
Memes: The evolutionary battle of ideas
Optimism: The irrationality of discounting human creativity
Mathematical Thinking
Exponential Growth and Decay: Grow fast or die trying
Power Laws: The hidden forces behind all sorts of inequalities
Nonlinear Thinking: Sorry, it’s not all sunshine and perfect lines
Compounding: Why we should actively trade ideas, but not stocks
Local vs. Global Peaks: Balancing exploration and exploitation to reach our pinnacle
Asymmetrical Thinking: Expose and exploit imbalances
Statistical Thinking
Randomness: Harnessing the chaos
Probabilistic Thinking: How to make better guesses (sometimes)
Bayesian Reasoning: A powerful (but flawed) rule of thumb for updating our beliefs
The Law of Large Numbers: Even big samples can tell lies
The Normal Model: Ringing the bell… carefully
Regression to the Mean: Heard of it? Well, you probably have it slightly wrong
Expected Value: Don’t buy lotto tickets, but keep funding startups
Hypothesis Testing: To be, or not to be significant
Physics
Relativity: Perspective is paramount
Inertia: Things keep moving and change is hard
Phase Transitions: Uncovering the hidden tipping points that change everything
Entropy: The improbability of order (oh, and the miracle of life itself)
Biology
Evolution by Variation and Selection: The reigning explanation for life (plus: why humans actually are special)
Computer Science
Signal vs. Noise: Finding the drop of truth in an ocean of distraction
