Hans
Rosling, the Swedish physician and statistician, gives 10 reasons why the world
is better than we think. To summarize, they are
1.
Gap
Instinct: We tend to resort in dichotomy and imagine two polarized groups.
However the reality is almost never that extreme, and we should always notice
the majority in the middle.
2.
Negativity
Instinct: When we receive negative news, we remember them very clearly and fear
they would affect us. This overly negative impression is created by the media
as it does not report good and gradual improvement but announces provocative
news.
3.
Straight
Line Instinct: A line is hardly straight. They have S-bends, slides, humps,
etc.
4.
Fear
Instinct: The world seems scarier because it is filtered by the media to grab
our attention.
5.
Size
Instinct: A lonely number tells nothing. We should always compare and get
things in proportion. Looking at rates rather than the amount can help.
6.
Generalization
Instinct: Question your categories. Do not divide ‘us’ and ‘them,’ and look for
similarities and differences across groups.
7.
Destiny
Instinct: Slow change is still change. Just because change is happening gradually,
they are not constant. Keep track of gradual improvements and update your
knowledge.
8.
Single
Perspective Instinct: Develop a multi-angle perspective to expand your
understanding. Test your ideas and welcome complexity and new ideas.
9.
Blame
Instinct: Look for causes, not villains. When something goes wrong, we need to
look in a whole perspective and understand the multiple interacting causes.
Same goes for heroes.
10.
Urgency
Instinct: Although something feels urgent, it rarely is. Take a breath and
look for accurate data. Do not take drastic actions.
Apart from
the 10 lessons, there are several parts that sparked my attention.
"Frightening and Dangerous are two different
things. Something frightening poses a perceived risk. Something dangerous poses
a real risk. Paying too much attention to what is frightening rather than what
is dangerous creates a tragic drainage of energy in the wrong directions"
This quote
shows that we are often distracted by trivialities and miss the big picture.
"The PIN code of the world is 1-1-1-4 (Americas,
Europe, Africa, and Asia). By 2100 the new PIN code will be 1-1-4-5. By 2040,
60% of level 4 consumers will live outside the West"
This quote
is important because it shows where the future marketplace is going
to take place.
"The fact that 88percent newborn babies are
vaccinated but major financial investors believe it is only 20% indicates that there
is a big chance they are failing at their jobs by missing out on huge
investment opportunities"
We must be
prepared for how the world will change in the future and find chances through
it.
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