Less (Information) Is More

When it comes to the big decisions in life, or solving important problems, do you think too much?

When you've tested at near-genius levels (no, but my son did, and where do you think he got it?), it can be a real drag. That's why a new book by Gerd Gigerenzer called Gut Feelings is a welcome addition to any library. Wray Herbert of Newsweek reviews the work, which includes sage advice from no less than Benjamin Franklin:

When Benjamin Franklin's nephew Joseph Priestley found himself stumped by a complex life decision, he wrote his sage uncle for advice. In his 1772 letter of reply, Franklin described his own method for reasoning out complex problems, which he called "moral algebra." Divide a sheet of paper in half, he counseled his nephew, and make an exhaustive list of pros and cons. Then, over a couple days, weigh the pros and cons, and when a pro and a con seem of equal weight, strike them both out. What is left in the balance is the best answer.
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