Book Reading #50: Why We Make Mistakes

Chapter 12
Summary
In chapter 12, Hallinan discusses constraints and affordances. He defines constraints as “simple mental aids that keep us on the right track by limiting our alternatives.” He defines affordances as “clues to how a thing can be used.”

He discusses the technique by which different organizations name things and gives two examples: prescription drug names and identifiers that pilots use. He also discusses the importance of finding the root cause and knowing where to look (the culture of the place where we work) when searching for the source of an error. In discussing pilots and doctors, Hallinan also explains the effect that attitude has on errors.

Discussion
Hallinan makes a lot of good points in this chapter about the different ways we look at things. The recurring examples between pilot and doctor were great. I also thought it was interesting to see this author also discussing affordances and constraints, something we know a lot about after reading several of Norman’s books.

Chapter 13
Summary
In chapter 13 Hallinan begins with an example of two people who moved to L.A. and then ended up moving back to Wisconsin. He uses this example to show how people mispredict how they will feel about important life decisions in the future because they focus on relatively minor factors. He uses the same idea of misprediction to explain why gift cards are great for the company but not so great for the consumer.

Discussion
In some ways I feel this might be one of the most beneficial chapters, because I can see myself applying these ideas to when I make decisions in the future with at least some success. As in all the other chapters, he provides some good examples that will encourage me to think more about the things that really matter when making big decision rather than the easier and what I will call surface reasons.

Conclusion
Summary
In the Conclusion Hallinan gives some advice on how the readers can apply the ideas presented in this book to their lives. Some of the things he recommends we keep in mind are:

1. Think small
2. Calibration can be taught
3. Creating a written record helps a person fend off the rose-colored-glasses of hindsight bias
4. In some cases it will be important to look for and even expect failure
5. Don’t be set in your ways
6. Slow down
7. Be aware of the anecdote (he references NutriSystem here)
8. Get plenty of sleep
9. Be happy

Hallinan concludes by discussing how money does not eliminate mistakes and is not the currency of life.

Discussion
Hallinan does a great job of summarizing his ideas without going overboard. It’s short and concise but effective. I especially like the last couple of sentences of the book: “…it’s not where you live that makes you happy; it’s how you use your time. Forgetting that may be the biggest mistake of all.” It was a great way to conclude a book dedicated to explaining our mistakes. Time is something we often take for granted, but it’s also something we can learn to make the most of one day at a time.