Algorithms to Live By

The Computer Science of Human Decisions

De: Brian Christian, Tom Griffiths

Narrado por: Brian Christian

Duración: 11 h y 50 m

Resumen del Editor

A fascinating exploration of how computer algorithms can be applied to our everyday lives, helping to solve common decision-making problems and illuminate the workings of the human mind

All our lives are constrained by limited space and time, limits that give rise to a particular set of problems. What should we do, or leave undone, in a day or a lifetime? How much messiness should we accept? What balance of new activities and familiar favorites is the most fulfilling? These may seem like uniquely human quandaries, but they are not: computers, too, face the same constraints, so computer scientists have been grappling with their version of such problems for decades. And the solutions they've found have much to teach us.

In a dazzlingly interdisciplinary work, acclaimed author Brian Christian (who holds degrees in computer science, philosophy, and poetry, and works at the intersection of all three) and Tom Griffiths (a UC Berkeley professor of cognitive science and psychology) show how the simple, precise algorithms used by computers can also untangle very human questions. They explain how to have better hunches and when to leave things to chance, how to deal with overwhelming choices and how best to connect with others. From finding a spouse to finding a parking spot, from organizing one's inbox to understanding the workings of human memory, Algorithms to Live By transforms the wisdom of computer science into strategies for human living.

©2016 Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Beware non-techies

I have a hard time grasping computer science, statistics and the like. So, I did not follow the narrator's explanations very well. But I did like hearing the results of his stories. I listened to the whole book even though I probably only understood 20% of it. The narrator had a nice voice and that made it easy for me to keep listening.

What's dryer than sand and crackers?

Well, it was interesting to learn how algorithms are a part of our everyday experience. Some of the topics seemed sort of 'no brainers,' others captured a bit more of the imagination and were insightful.

I had an extremely difficult time making it through this book. The person reading had an unexciting and near monotone voice. I had to go back and rewind numerous times because my mind would trail off on something completely unrelated to the book.

Maybe they have more visuals in the book, 'spice' things up a bit more than the audio version. :-)

Really Good

I really enjoyed this book all the way through. After listening, I feel like more mentally efficient and organized. The chapter in caching was especially helpful for organizing myself a bit better. Highly recommend.

A Good Topic, Decently Explored

My main realization about this book is that it is roughly 50% computer science background/introduction, 25% anecdotes, and 25% suggestions for how to improve our own decisions with lessons from computer science.

The publisher was correct for not titling the book, "How to Use Computer Science to Improve Human Decisions," but I was a bit disappointed by how little I could take away from the book to apply in my life. This is more of an intro to CS book, with some suggestions for the general public mixed in.

Title is misleading

A better title would have been "Fundamentals of data management". The book was too simple to be useful, but it would be good for someone just beginning to learn computer programming.

Interesting and informative and entertaining

Fun read, smart and interesting. Excellent narration. Offers a different perspective on computer science and its application in everyday life.

My New Favorite Book

This book was a joy. As an engineer and hobby mathematician, I only wish it was twice as long with more examples. The quotes and proverbs are a nice poetic balance to the logistics and game theory.

This narrator is perfectly articulate. Anyone interested in this book's subject matter is probably interested in listening to it at 1.5 or 2x speed. Christian is perfectly understandable at 2x.

Interesting and Thought-Provoking

I found the subject matter to be quite interesting and Thought-Provoking, although I'm unsure how much I will personally apply the knowledge that I've learned in the book.

The material was laid out well and was easily understood. For me though, it didn't have a that glorious ah-ha moment of a five star book.

Useful and relevant decision making tools!

I found this audiobook extremely useful in everyday decision making as well as for more particular and complex choices in life. Please note that to me, it requiered additional attention and frequently rewine to fully understand its ideas and context, mainly because of the depth and detail sometines used (which is not a bad thing).

Great material - narration slow

This was a great book that helped me in an explanation of how algorithms work in out heads. The only issue I have with this book is how slow the narration is. I would listen to it at 1.25 - 1.6x speed.