The Art of Clear Thinking: A Stealth Fighter Pilot's Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions

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This book is a distillation of those lessons [that I learned as a fighter pilot] and how modern U.S. fighter pilots think about decision-making. Being on the cutting edge of applied decision-making, we've taught the techniques in this book to pilotd around the world, including thr Dutch, Israeli, Norwegian, South Korean, Japanese, and over a dozen other air forces...

Purposeful reading can help with critical thinking because it encourages you to read actively rather than passively. When you read, ask yourself questions about what you are reading and make notes to record your views. Ask questions like: The chapter on bright ideas and where they come from is fascinating. I like that the end conclusion is that such ideas can come from anywhere. The broader the experience, the more likely that pattern recognition is possible, the more often you'll have such a so called bright idea. Really gives me a different perspective on how to approach thinking about new things and new experiences. As the title of this psychological self-help work suggests, Flesch explores what clear thinking is and how it can be achieved. He thereby takes you on an unexpected ride, touching the scientific fields of psychology, linguistics, anthropology, neurology, sociology, history, probability theory, and more.From there Hasard shows us how this and other situations could have been better assessed and delivers a great chapter on power laws- why things increase exponentially and why our minds are programmed to think in linear terms. For example how increasing your speed from 40 to 65 MPH will save about 6 minutes every 10 miles but increasing your speed from 65 to 90 will only save half the time even though the MPH increase is the same.. He explains the why of this in the chapter and introduces us to non-linear thinking concepts and why thinking in non linear terms is so important to assessing and making decisions ( Power laws) I try. And now that I think about it, being a fighter pilot's a lot like being a father. Its minimal sleep, a lot of chaos, a lot of incomplete information, and lives are on the line.

In air combat, the threats are continually changing as each side postures to protect their vulnerabilities while also exploiting their adversary’s. Decisions are continually tested and countered in the ultimate cat-and-mouse game. This continual evolution has led to a modern battlefield that is as diverse as it is dangerous.Further chapters discuss ways to get more out of reading, thinking in and around the home about family and quotidian things, what kind of thinking is best at work, and, finally, he reminds the reader that thinking can be difficult, that accepting common ways of doing things (even if in error) is often easier. He concludes the book: “…Life’s problems are always new, and defy all ready-made solutions. That’s what makes life interesting.”

Through his first seven chapters, each rife with anecdotes and references he is able to validate with detailed endnotes at the end of the book, he comes up with a summary list of five points, and then ten chapters later, the list has grown to eight practical points. Clearly, repetition is a good way to ensure that one is thinking clearly about a subject. The list: A fireworks show of insights into how our minds work. If you want to avoid tripping on cognitive errors, read this book.” (Iris Bohnet, Professor and Academic Dean, Harvard Kennedy School, Director of the Harvard Decision Science Laboratory) Finally, I did find a numerical error in this book where Lee was demonstrating how a complex numerical problem can be mentally solved. I mention this because an error like this can undermine Lee's credibility. As well, I feel a book like this should have an index so the reader can easily access vital information. A glossary would have been beneficial. I also felt some of the true stories dragged on. Strap in and hold on as Hasard Lee lights the afterburner on leadership and risk management under extreme pressure. The Art of Clear Thinking is a riveting read, full of instantly actionable advice—not just for high-stakes decisions, but also for handling everyday choices at work and home." —Scott Parazynski, 5x NASA shuttle Astronaut, Astronaut Hall of Fame, credited with saving the Space Station during STS-120, Physician, Inventor, Tech CEO, Author In The Art of Clear Thinking , Hasard Lee distills what he’s learned during his career flying some of the Air Force’s most advanced aircraft. With gripping firsthand accounts from his time as a fighter pilot and fascinating turning points throughout history, Hasard reveals powerful decision-making principles that can be used in business and in life,

The training to become a fighter pilot is among the most competitive and difficult in the world with fewer than one in a thousand succeeding. Pushing a cutting-edge jet to its limits at over 1,000 mph means that every split-second decision can have catastrophic consequences. This extreme environment has forged a group of warriors who for the last fifty years have been considered at the apex of decision-making theory and practice. One day I walked into the secure vault, which is the tactical nerve center of every fighter squadron, and Cygon was there telling a story about the test program he had been a part of in the F-16. He had learned that in a clean configuration, the F-16 would begin to buffet at around Mach 1.6—it was a known area where the aerodynamic forces would compound and amplify the vibrations. He said that it was possible to push through it by counterintuitively going faster. The change in resonance would dampen the flexing and reduce the vibration. It was an interesting story, but one that I didn’t think would apply to the tactical flying we did during day-to-day operations. He then discusses different types of logical fallacies and reminds the reader of the types of battles plaguing the simple Aristotalian logic problem of if all a equals b and all b = c, then all a = c. He references Shopenhauers work and the finding of over 40 illogical arguments/appeals that will illicit responses that are false. Looking out of the canopy at fifty thousand feet, the sky was now noticeably darker—I was above most of the atmosphere and could see the deep shade of indigo above me slowly transition into the ice-blue horizon. The curvature of the earth was also clearly visible as it bowed across my field of view. To my right, I could see the entire Korean peninsula, green with a thin layer of haze over it. To my left, a few clouds over the Yellow Sea separated me from mainland China. To solve a puzzling problem, look for a seemingly irrelevant key factor in the situation and for a seemingly unsuitable pattern in your mind.

Firstly, he explains a story of how a plane ended up crashing because the pilots were in a state of panic, not thinking clearly and thoroughly. This accident could have been easily avoided and prevented if they had just stayed calm instead of jumping to action without working it out. Dobelli examines our most common decision-making failings with engaging eloquence and describes how to counter them with instructive good sense.” (Robert Cialdini, author of Influence)

It's just how we're wired. But it doesn't have to stay that way. This book gives you the tools to clear the fog from your eyes and simply think smarter.