About the book
\"The Ostrich Paradox boldly addresses a key question of our time: Why are we humans so poor at dealing with disastrous risks, and what can we humans do about it? It is a must-read for everyone who cares about risk.\"
—Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow
We fail to evacuate when advised. We rebuild in flood zones. We don't wear helmets. We fail to purchase insurance. We would rather avoid the risk of \"crying wolf\" than sound an alarm.
Our ability to foresee and protect against natural catastrophes has never been greater; yet, we consistently fail to heed the warnings and protect ourselves and our communities, with devastating consequences. What explains this contradiction?
In The Ostrich Paradox, Wharton professors Robert Meyer and Howard Kunreuther draw on years of teaching and research to explain why disaster preparedness efforts consistently fall short. Filled with heartbreaking stories of loss and resilience, the book addresses:
•How people make decisions when confronted with high-consequence, low-probability events—and how these decisions can go awry
•The 6 biases that lead individuals, communities, and institutions to make grave errors that cost lives
•The Behavioral Risk Audit, a systematic approach for improving preparedness by recognizing these biases and designing strategies that anticipate them
•Why, if we are to be better prepared for disasters, we need to learn to be more like ostriches, not less
Fast-reading and critically important, The Ostrich Paradox is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why we consistently underprepare for disasters, as well as private and public leaders, planners, and policy-makers who want to build more prepared communities.
Editions of The Ostrich Paradox
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781613630808
- EBook
- ISBN 9781613630792
Read an Excerpt
\"The Ostrich Paradox boldly addresses a key question of our time: Why are we humans so poor at dealing with disastrous risks, and what can we humans do about it? It is a must-read for everyone who cares about risk.\"
—Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow
We fail to evacuate when advised. We rebuild in flood zones. We don't wear helmets. We fail to purchase insurance. We would rather avoid the risk of \"crying wolf\" than sound an alarm.
Our ability to foresee and protect against natural catastrophes has never been greater; yet, we consistently fail to heed the warnings and protect ourselves and our communities, with devastating consequences. What explains this contradiction?
In The Ostrich Paradox, Wharton professors Robert Meyer and Howard Kunreuther draw on years of teaching and research to explain why disaster preparedness efforts consistently fall short. Filled with heartbreaking stories of loss and resilience, the book addresses:
•How people make decisions when confronted with high-consequence, low-probability events—and how these decisions can go awry
•The 6 biases that lead individuals, communities, and institutions to make grave errors that cost lives
•The Behavioral Risk Audit, a systematic approach for improving preparedness by recognizing these biases and designing strategies that anticipate them
•Why, if we are to be better prepared for disasters, we need to learn to be more like ostriches, not less
Fast-reading and critically important, The Ostrich Paradox is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why we consistently underprepare for disasters, as well as private and public leaders, planners, and policy-makers who want to build more prepared communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Ostrich Paradox about?
\"The Ostrich Paradox boldly addresses a key question of our time: Why are we humans so poor at dealing with disastrous risks, and what can we humans do about it? It is a must-read for everyone who cares about risk.\"
—Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow
We fail to evacuate when advised. We rebuild in flood zones. We don't wear helmets. We fail to purchase insurance. We would rather avoid the risk of \"crying wolf\" than sound an alarm.
Our ability to foresee and protect against natural catastrophes has never been greater; yet, we consistently fail to heed the warnings and protect ourselves and our communities, with devastating consequences. What explains this contradiction?
In The Ostrich Paradox, Wharton professors Robert Meyer and Howard Kunreuther draw on years of teaching and research to explain why disaster preparedness efforts consistently fall short. Filled with heartbreaking stories of loss and resilience, the book addresses:
•How people make decisions when confronted with high-consequence, low-probability events—and how these decisions can go awry
•The 6 biases that lead individuals, communities, and institutions to make grave errors that cost lives
•The Behavioral Risk Audit, a systematic approach for improving preparedness by recognizing these biases and designing strategies that anticipate them
•Why, if we are to be better prepared for disasters, we need to learn to be more like ostriches, not less
Fast-reading and critically important, The Ostrich Paradox is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why we consistently underprepare for disasters, as well as private and public leaders, planners, and policy-makers who want to build more prepared communities.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Ostrich Paradox?
Economics, Finance, Business and Management > Business and Management > Management and management techniques > Management decision making
Where can I read a sample of The Ostrich Paradox?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781613630808
How long is The Ostrich Paradox and how many pages does it have?
The Ostrich Paradox has 132 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Ostrich Paradox?
Howard Kunreuther, Robert Meyer
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Ostrich Paradox is available as paperback(ISBN 9781613630808) and ebook(ISBN 9781613630792)
Where can I buy The Ostrich Paradox online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Ostrich Paradox from below
Where can I buy The Ostrich Paradox?