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Same as ever : a guide to what never changes / Morgan Housel.

by Housel, Morgan.

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Portfolio/Penguin, 2023.

Housel, Morgan -- Anecdotes.

Journalists -- United States -- 21st century -- Anecdotes.

Human behavior.

American essays -- 21st century.

9780593332702 (hc.)

226 p. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [207]-226).

"From the author of The Psychology of Money, a powerful new tool to unlock one of life's most challenging puzzles. Every investment plan under the sun is, at best, an informed speculation of what may happen in the future, based on a systematic extrapolation from the known past. 'Same as Ever' reverses the process, inviting us to identify the many things that never, ever change. With his usual elan, Morgan Housel presents a master class on optimizing risk, seizing opportunity, and living your best life. Through a sequence of engaging stories and pithy examples, he shows how we can use our newfound grasp of the unchanging to see around corners, not by squinting harder through the uncertain landscape of the future, but by looking backwards, being more broad-sighted, and focusing instead on what is permanently true. By doing so, we may better anticipate the big stuff, and achieve the greatest success, not merely financial comforts, but most importantly, a life well lived."

"A look at how human nature is the great constant in the history of change. This is a strange piece of work: a collection of 23 “little stories” (many of them drawn from the author’s blog) loosely organized around the theme of risk. A business journalist and a partner at the Collaborative Fund, a venture capital firm, Housel acknowledges that technology, trends, and politics move at an astonishingly rapid pace, but he asserts that human behavior does not really change much. Identifying what changes and what does not is the key to effective risk assessment as well as the path to a decent, contented life. Humans, writes the author, will be satisfied with what they have until they see others who have more. To get ahead, they are likely to listen to “experts,” although often the only talent these experts have is making everything more complex than it really is. Most people respond more readily to narratives and incentives than to data. There is a tendency to think of the future as a straightforward extrapolation of the past, although the most significant events are the big surprises that seem to jump out of nowhere. Housel tries to provide a series of lessons, such as acknowledging that every job has its downsides and understanding that many aspects of life are unpredictable and difficult. This is interesting enough, but many of the author’s stories, especially those based on personal experiences, do not seem to relate to his theme, or indeed to anything. His thinking can be difficult to follow, and some of his conclusions are contradictory. Some readers might find the book to be positive and even inspiring, but many others will find it merely self-indulgent and confusing. Housel makes some good points, but they are often lost in the text’s meandering structure and lack of focus."--Kirkus Reviews.

Morgan Housel is a partner at The Collaborative Fund. He is a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, winner of the New York Times Sidney Award, and a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two kids.

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