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