A cult bestseller in the US, available around the world for the first time, The Great Mental Models introduces the simple tools we all need to see the world clearly.

Time and time again, great thinkers like Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger have credited their success to mental models: simple representations of how the world works that can be applied in a wide array of contexts. Mastering a small number of these concepts enables you to rapidly grasp new information, identify patterns others don’t, and better anticipate outcomes.

The Great Mental Models introduces the most powerful models that anyone can use right away to improve decision making and productivity. In this volume, Shane Parrish introduces mental tools borrowed from the hard sciences in language anyone can understand, including:

• Leverage: When the application of a small force to one end results in a larger force at the other end.


• Inertia: An object (or organization) at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force.


• Activation Energy: The minimum amount of energy required to incite a chemical reaction.

Building a latticework of mental models is one of the most powerful things you can do to become a better thinker, leader, or creator. The Great Mental Models is the accessible guide you need to unlock this ability.