
The Bed of Procrustes
Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms
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Narrated by:
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Sean Pratt
About this listen
By the author of the modern classic The Black Swan, this collection of aphorisms and meditations expresses his major ideas in ways you least expect.
The Bed of Procrustes takes its title from Greek mythology: the story of a man who made his visitors fit his bed to perfection by either stretching them or cutting their limbs. It represents Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s view of modern civilization’s hubristic side effects - modifying humans to satisfy technology, blaming reality for not fitting economic models, inventing diseases to sell drugs, defining intelligence as what can be tested in a classroom, and convincing people that employment is not slavery.
Playful and irreverent, these aphorisms will surprise you by exposing self-delusions you have been living with but never recognized. With a rare combination of pointed wit and potent wisdom, Taleb plows through human illusions, contrasting the classical values of courage, elegance, and erudition against the modern diseases of nerdiness, philistinism, and phoniness.
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Throughout history, a powerful force has hindered the growth of human welfare and happiness. It is more powerful than the Mafia or the military. It has global catastrophic effects and can be found anywhere from the world's most powerful boardrooms to your local bar. It is human stupidity. Carlo M. Cipolla, noted professor of economic history at the UC Berkeley, created this vitally important book in order to detect and neutralize its threat.
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What do you have to loose?
- By Andres on 04-06-21
By: Carlo M. Cipolla, and others
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Antifragile
- Prosperare nel disordine
- By: Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Narrated by: Nicola Bonimelli
- Length: 18 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Questo audiolibro offre una nuova visione del mondo. La prospettiva che cambierà le nostre idee sulla società e ispirerà le nostre scelte quotidiane. Ci aiuterà a comprendere come il nostro corpo si protegge dalle malattie e le specie viventi si evolvono, come la libertà d'impresa crea prosperità e il genio si trasforma in innovazione.
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Please write Italian version on the title
- By FA on 11-13-21
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Hedge Fund Market Wizards
- How Winning Traders Win
- By: Jack D. Schwager
- Narrated by: Clinton Wade
- Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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From best-selling author, investment expert, and Wall Street theoretician Jack Schwager comes a behind-the-scenes look at the world of hedge funds, from 15 traders who've consistently beaten the markets. Exploring what makes a great trader a great trader, Hedge Fund Market Wizards breaks new ground, giving readers rare insight into the trading philosophy and successful methods employed by some of the most profitable individuals in the hedge fund business.
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So much timeless wisdom
- By Rodney Williams on 08-24-20
By: Jack D. Schwager
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The Last Question
- By: Isaac Asimov
- Narrated by: Jim Gallant
- Length: 1 hr and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Here is a story that goes beyond space and time. Isaac Asimov takes on a journey that explores the ultimate fate of the universe, along with the question, what will become of the human race? So take a journey into the outer twilight of your mind. Turn off the light, sit back and relax, close your eyes, and enter the infinite universe of your imagination.
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Good story, but a disappointing purchase
- By Steven on 04-24-13
By: Isaac Asimov
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Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
- By: Carlo Rovelli
- Narrated by: Carlo Rovelli
- Length: 1 hr and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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This playful, entertaining, and mind-bending introduction to modern physics briskly explains Einstein's general relativity, quantum mechanics, elementary particles, gravity, black holes, the complex architecture of the Universe, and the role humans play in this weird and wonderful world. Carlo Rovelli, a renowned theoretical physicist, is a delightfully poetic and philosophical scientific guide. He takes us to the frontiers of our knowledge: To the most minute reaches of the fabric of space, back to the origins of the cosmos, and into the workings of our minds.
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We are made of the same stardust...
- By Darwin8u on 03-21-16
By: Carlo Rovelli
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A Man for All Markets
- From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market
- By: Edward O. Thorp, Nassim Nicholas Taleb - foreword
- Narrated by: Edward O. Thorp
- Length: 16 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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The incredible true story of the card-counting mathematics professor who taught the world how to beat the dealer and, as the first of the great quantitative investors, ushered in a revolution on Wall Street.
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A life of a genius
- By Oleksiy Volovik on 05-08-17
By: Edward O. Thorp, and others
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The Lessons of History
- By: Will, Ariel Durant
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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The authors devoted five decades to the study of world history and philosophy, culminating in the masterful 11-volume Story of Civilization. In this compact summation of their work, Will and Ariel Durant share the vital and profound lessons of our collective past. Their perspective, gained after a lifetime of thinking and writing about the history of humankind, is an invaluable resource for us today.
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This is a must for every Educated Person
- By BradleyBurr on 10-29-07
By: Will, and others
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Reality Is Not What It Seems
- The Journey to Quantum Gravity
- By: Carlo Rovelli, Simon Carnell - translator, Erica Segre - translator
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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From the New York Times best-selling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, The Order of Time, and Helgoland, a closer look at the mind-bending nature of the Universe. What are the elementary ingredients of the world? Do time and space exist? And what exactly is reality? Theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli has spent his life exploring these questions. He tells us how our understanding of reality has changed over the centuries and how physicists think about the structure of the Universe today.
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Most compelling physics book in at least 10 years!
- By Kyle on 02-03-17
By: Carlo Rovelli, and others
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The Sovereign Individual
- Mastering the Transition to the Information Age
- By: James Dale Davidson, Peter Thiel - preface, William Rees-Mogg
- Narrated by: Michael David Axtell
- Length: 19 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Two renowned investment advisors and authors of the best seller The Great Reckoning bring to light both currents of disaster and the potential for prosperity and renewal in the face of radical changes in human history as we move into the next century. The Sovereign Individual details strategies necessary for adapting financially to the next phase of Western civilization.
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Unfortunately distopian for mosty of humanity
- By Phil on 09-29-20
By: James Dale Davidson, and others
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How to Win an Election
- An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians
- By: Quintus Tullius Cicero, Philip Freeman - translator
- Narrated by: Doug Kaye
- Length: 1 hr and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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How to Win an Election is an ancient Roman guide for campaigning that is as up-to-date as tomorrow's headlines. In 64 BC when idealist Marcus Cicero, Rome's greatest orator, ran for consul (the highest office in the Republic), his practical brother Quintus decided he needed some no-nonsense advice on running a successful campaign.
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How to be a politician ...
- By Benedict on 07-31-13
By: Quintus Tullius Cicero, and others
What listeners say about The Bed of Procrustes
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- Carey
- 05-15-12
Another Great work by Taleb
Would you listen to The Bed of Procrustes again? Why?
i would listen to it again and again to gain a better insight into my own life and the lifes of the people around me
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Bed of Procrustes?
the idea that we are changing our children to fit the educational system instead of changing the educational system to fit our children!!!
Which character – as performed by Sean Pratt – was your favorite?
Procrustes!! violent murderer!
What did you learn from The Bed of Procrustes that you would use in your daily life?
to be a epidemiologist! a skeptic!
Any additional comments?
thanks Taleb... you have made me a better options trader, friend, and element of society!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Chance H.
- 02-05-23
Another great work
A gold mine of wisdom that will take many reads to fully appreciate. Thank you Nassim.
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- Kindle Customer
- 09-05-24
Short and to the point
Short and to thr point. Recommended and a great listen. Many great ideas worth hearing.
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- T. Combs
- 10-24-12
Big Taleb fan? You'll like it. Otherwise, pass.
Where does The Bed of Procrustes rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Somewhere in the middle. It's a short listen, so I don't feel like I wasted my time or money, but I have to admit that it's my least favorite of his three books. *That said, I loved his other two books, and only like this one. So saying it's my least favorite isn't a harsh indictment of it.
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
The entire book is aphorisms. Just short, little, sentences about observations Taleb has made. Some are really insightful, some are pretty stupid.
Which scene was your favorite?
Really insightful:
"For the robust, an error is information; for the fragile, an error is an error."
Pretty stupid:
"Never say 'no' twice."
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes.
Any additional comments?
Check out the preview. If you like it, there's lots more just like it. If you don't, then save your credit. I think this book will divide between "like it a lot" and "wow that's dumb." I am in the first camp; my wife in the latter.
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6 people found this helpful
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- John Galt
- 11-25-19
Better than 'reading' the book!
Having read the book, 'hearing' these parables is far more interesting. Thoughtful ideas, highly recommended.
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- Daniel Brenner
- 05-02-20
Powerful
I was initially concerned that the length of this book would mean it would contain less content than Taleb's other work. This was not the case! This title was jam-packed full of Taleb magic, a lot of it basic truths that I will benefit from encountering. And of course, the main point, the idea of the bed of Procrustes, was worth the price of admission. Bravo Taleb!
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- Jan Haffty
- 12-22-23
depth of thought was staggering
so much actionable knowledge about a broad set of human actions in a short book. left me realizing how far beyond the horizon was there that I could not see.
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- Leland Meyer
- 06-27-19
A Great Intro Book
This is a great intro book to Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I really enjoyed this book as I have all of his other books.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-27-23
It’s like another chapter of proverbs
Pretty good stuff
I enjoyed it
It’s like a new chapter of proverbs was released
&
Maybe over rated ;0)
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- Amazon Customer
- 10-04-24
Thought provoking
Listen to it slowly. I normally listen to books on double speed; this I had to slow down and really listen. He shares a lot of very good insights. I didn’t agree with everything but I enjoyed it.
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