Quit
The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away
Business leaders, with millions of dollars down the drain, struggle to abandon a new app or product that just isn’t working. Governments, caught in a hopeless conflict, believe that the next tactic will finally be the one that wins the war. And in our own lives, we persist in relationships or careers that no longer serve us. Why? According to Annie Duke, in the face of tough decisions, we’re terrible quitters. And that is significantly holding us back.
InQuit, Duke teaches you how to get good at quitting. Drawing on stories from elite athletes like Mount Everest climbers, founders of leading companies like Stewart Butterfield, the CEO of Slack, and top entertainers like Dave Chappelle, Duke explains why quitting is integral to success, as well as strategies for determining when to hold em, and when to fold em, that will save you time, energy, and money.
You’ll learn:
- How the paradox of quitting influences decision making: If you quit on time, you will feel you quit early
- What forces work against good quitting behavior, such as escalation commitment, desire for certainty, and status quo bias
- How to think in expected value in order to make better decisions, as well as other best practices, such as increasing flexibility in goal-setting, establishing “quitting contracts,” anticipating optionality, and conducting premortems and backcasts
Whether you’re facing a make-or-break business decision or life-altering personal choice, mastering the skill of quitting will help you make the best next move.
“This brilliant and entertaining book documents a major flaw in human actions and decisions: the bias against quitting. I learned a lot from its compelling tales of failures and sound recommendations. You will too.”
—Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize winner in economics and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Thinking, Fast and Slow
“Engrossing, important, and grounded in science, Quit is a gem that will allow you to navigate the world more effectively.”
—Katy Milkman, bestselling author of How to Change
“A game-changing book of strategy from a world-class thinker on risk and decision-making.”
—Shane Parrish, host of The Knowledge Project podcast
“Quit is the rare book that is both a page-turner and a legitimately important contribution. If you’ve never thought of quitting as a competitive advantage before, prepare to be enlightened.”
—David Epstein, bestselling author of Range
“Only a poker player could write this classic book on when--and more importantly how--to fold a bad hand in business, investing, relationships and life.”
—Ryan Holiday, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stillness Is the Key
“The opposite of a great virtue is also a virtue. And Quit is the perfect dialectical complement to Grit. Weave these two virtues into your character and live a much more fulfilling life.”
—Philip Tetlock, bestselling author of Superforecasting
“Every business school has a course in starting new businesses, but few have a course in shutting them down at the right time. This book fills that gap with brilliant new insights and fantastic stories. Quit what you are doing right now and start reading this book."
—Richard Thaler, Nobel Prize winner in economics and bestselling coauthor of Nudge
"Quitting is not just an art; it's also a science – and there is no one so uniquely suited to teach us both as Annie Duke."
—Brian Christian, coauthor of Algorithms to Live By
“Not since Kenny Rogers has an expert storyteller so clearly demonstrated the importance of knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em, nor presented a clearer strategy to determine when, instead of merely walking away, it’s time to run.”
—David McRaney, author of How Minds Change
“You won't want to quit reading this book, both because it is such a rewarding read and also because its lessons are so important, useful, and memorable.”
—Don A. Moore, author of Perfectly Confident
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How to Decide
Simple Tools for Making Better Choices
What do you do when you’re faced with a big decision? If you’re like most people, you probably make a pro and con list, spend a lot of time obsessing about decisions that didn’t work out, get caught in analysis paralysis, endlessly seek other people’s opinions to find just that little bit of extra information that might make you sure, and finally go with your gut.
What if there was a better way to make quality decisions so you can think clearly, feel more confident, second-guess yourself less, and ultimately be more decisive and be more productive? Making good decisions doesn’t have to be a series of endless guesswork. Rather, it’s a teachable skill that anyone can sharpen.
"What a phenomenal achievement! Written with zest, flair, and compassion, it's a ton of fun, and it's also packed with original ideas."--Cass R. Sunstein
Cass R. Sunstein, author of How Change HappensAuthor of How Change Happens
"Annie Duke gives you the tools you need and tells you how to use them effectively. Smart and practical, How to Decide is the best user's guide to decision-making that you'll find."
Michael J. MauboussinAuthor of The Success Equation
"This is a vitally important book. Simple, powerful and generous, it should be required reading."
Seth GodinAuthor of This is Marketing
“No one could explain the process of high-stakes decision-making better than Annie Duke, or make it as entertaining and insightful as How to Decide. The first decision you should make is to read this book immediately!”
Garry KasparovChess grandmaster and author of Winter is Coming
"How to Decide is the perfect guide to decision making that you didn't even know you needed. Clear, engaging, and thought-provoking, it forces even those of us to re-examine our thought processes and question the innermost workings of our minds."
Maria KonnikovaAuthor of The Biggest Bluff
“Many books teach us why we make bad choices. Few help us make better ones. At long last, Annie Duke has tackled that problem. Her handbook for decision-making isn’t just evidence-based and practical—it’s fun too.”
Adam GrantBestselling author of Originals and Give and Take
“You can’t learn how to ride a bicycle by reading physics textbooks. You need to get on the bike and practice. And you can’t become a better decisionmaker by reading micro-economics textbooks. You need to practice by working through the real-world exercises in this state-of-the-art book.”
Philip TetlockAuthor of Superforecasting
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Thinking in Bets
Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts
“I’ve been writing this book since 2015, but it’s the distillation of issues I’ve been addressing since 2002 – and arguably since 1992 or even earlier. During the last half of my 20 years in poker, I developed a pair of mirror-image careers: using my behavioral science approach to teach groups of developing players about poker strategy, and using my poker background to teach business and professional groups about decision-making strategy. I am excited to offer this to you now in book form as Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts.” —Annie
"An elegant fusion of poker-table street-smarts and cognitive science insights. This book will make you both a shrewder and wiser player in the game of life."
Philip E. TetlockAnnenberg University Professor, University of Pennsylvania and author of Superforecasting
“A mind-bending and indispensable book for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone who faces risk on a regular basis.”
Olivia Fox CabaneAuthor of The Net and the Butterfly
"Through wonderful storytelling and sly wit, Annie Duke has crafted the ultimate guide to thinking about risk. We can all learn how to make better decisions by learning from someone who made choices for a living, with millions on the line."
Charles DuhiggAuthor of the bestsellers, The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better
"Brilliant. Buy ten copies and give one to everyone you work with. It’s that good."
Seth GodinAuthor of The Icarus Deception
"Thinking in Bets offers a compelling, and eminently useful, new way to think about life’s decisions. Annie Duke has written an important, and often hilarious, book that will help you understand your own shortcomings – and make smarter choices as a result. You can bet on it."
Maria KonnikovaAuthor of The Confidence Game and Mastermind
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Annie's Other Books
