The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds

Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky rose to prominence in their field due to their willingness to question conventional wisdom, just as Israeli students often question the lectures of their university professors. Discuss Kahneman and Tversky’s legacy, particularly in the area of decision making. Also consider how their shared cultural background influenced their professional success.

In Chapter 1 Lewis describes how former NBA player and current TV personality Charles Barkley lambasted team executives who relied on data to inform their front office decisions. Barkley’s main critique was simply that these executives hadn’t played at the highest level of basketball and that this lack of experience jeopardized their credibility. Discuss the impact of “outsiders” in any industry. Cite examples and ideas from the book to support your arguments.

Throughout the book Lewis alludes to the idea that “experts” are not always guided by the most effective decision-making processes. Given Lewis’s findings on Kahneman and Tversky’s research, what then is the role of the expert in any given field?