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The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

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.

"The most prophetic voice of all." -GQ

"The hottest thinker in the world." -Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times (London)

"Idiosyncratically brilliant." -Niall Ferguson, Los Angeles Times
Country USA
Brand Gildan Media
Manufacturer Your Coach Digital
Binding Audio CD
UnitCount 2
Format Audiobook
UPCs 001596597615
EANs 9781596597617
ReleaseDate 2010-12-14

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