Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/decisive

Comment #4156

2019-08-13T20:19:44Z

There's one more thing that relieves menu paralysis: eat out more. When I was growing up, restaurants had two uses: anniversary dinners for my parents (once a year, and without us), and places to eat when travelling (no fancier than Howard Johnson's unless our grandparents were paying). Between college graduation and retirement, restaurant meals were also relatively rare, if not quite to that extreme. Such circumstances put heavy pressure on the choices, since my next visit to that restaurant might be next year—or never. I had to make the best choice!

Now, circumstances are different. Eating out with friends is a major part of our social life, and pleasing everyone tends to limit the range of restaurant possibilities. That has made meal choices much easier, both because I'm usually familiar with the menu, and because I know I'll have more chances to make a different choice.

Comment #4155

2019-08-13T19:49:16Z

I liked the book a lot — thank you again! The title, I thought, was less than ideal: though snappy, it gives the impression that it's about deciding quickly, not deciding wisely.

I think I read enough preview material that I didn't expect them to relieve me of menu paralysis, though I suppose there's a case to be made for smarter menus, either with default choices or interactive guidance. What you eat on average is important; what you choose for a single meal probably doesn't carry enough weight to merit treatment in this book. I'd humbly suggest that if you can't make joint decisions a fun part of the event, then either stick with the first item that looked good, or pick for someone else (circular permutation).

Comment #4154

2019-08-09T02:50:30Z

My UTG students often ask "what should I study in graduate school?" They seem surprised when I turn the question around to "what kind of job do you hope to get afterwards?"