Think Like A Freak -

Most people would rather fake an answer than admit ignorance. But "thinking like a freak" starts with a blank slate. If you can't admit what you don't know, you'll never be able to learn what you need to solve the problem. 2. Think Like a Child

We’re taught from a young age that "quitters never win," but Levitt and Dubner argue that quitting is often the most rational thing you can do. Sunk costs (the time or money you've already spent) shouldn't dictate your future. Quitting what doesn't work frees up your resources to find what does. Think Like a Freak

if you don't pay attention to how people actually respond to them. 4. The Upside of Quitting Most people would rather fake an answer than admit ignorance

Adults are weighed down by "conventional wisdom" and preconceived notions about how the world should work. Children, however, are naturally curious and uninhibited. By "thinking small" and asking the "silly" questions adults ignore, you can often find the root cause of a massive issue that everyone else missed. 3. It’s All About the Incentives Quitting what doesn't work frees up your resources

Whether it’s getting a kid to use the potty or solving global famine, people respond to incentives—but not always the ones you expect. A "Freak" understands that: .

Retrain Your Brain: Why You Should "Think Like a Freak" We’ve all been there: staring at a problem that feels impossible, following the "standard" advice, and getting absolutely nowhere. In their book , Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner (the duo behind the Freakonomics phenomenon ) argue that the reason we get stuck is that we’re thinking like everyone else.

Think Like a Freak: Our New Book Out on May 13 - Freakonomics