Book quiz
The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't Quiz
The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don'tJulia GalefThe French General Staff convicted an innocent officer, and only one colonel dared to ask: what if we are wrong? Julia Galef explains why we defend comfortable beliefs like soldiers, and how to learn to look at the world like a scout. This book is about seeing clearly without losing your motivation or your hope.
Question 1 of 5
Your boss returns your report for the second time. What would someone with a scout mindset do?
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Right answer: Find out what's wrong, even if the answer is unpleasant
The soldier picks the comforting "they're just nitpicking". The scout wants to see how things really are, or the next report will come back for the same reason.
Question 2 of 5
What is the conformity test?
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Right answer: Imagine the person behind an opinion dropped it
Imagine the person behind an opinion dropped it. If your view wouldn't survive that, you're held by the group, not the argument.
Question 3 of 5
Almost all of your forecasts rated at 70% come true. What does that mean, per Galef?
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Right answer: Poor calibration: your confidence is too low
With good calibration, about seven in ten of your 70% estimates come true. If nearly all do, your confidence is lower than the facts allow.
Question 4 of 5
According to Galef, why did Bezos and Musk take on risky ventures?
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Right answer: They saw a bet worth making
Galef shows they didn't believe blindly in success. They understood the risk and saw a bet worth making.
Question 5 of 5
What does Galef advise so your views don't keep you from admitting mistakes?
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Right answer: Treat your views as a description, not a flag
You don't have to give up your views. If you treat them as a description rather than a banner, admitting you're wrong gets easier.
Want all of the book's key ideas? Read or listen to its retelling in Livria.