Yes. I just searched this comment thread for "Taleb" and am distressed to find the first reference this far down. The Black Swan especially is amazing; I just read it (http://jseliger.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/life-the-readers-ed...) and now can't stop recommending it. Though it seems like the sort of book whose central idea can be understood through reviews, it is full of subtle and unexpected comments. Altman wrote this:
But maybe there are some tail risks we should really worry about.
and indeed that's what much of Taleb's body of work is about. I am partway through Antifragile and do not find it as compelling as The Black Swan, however.
> I am partway through Antifragile and do not find it as compelling as The Black Swan, however.
Personally I think Antifragile is much better, in that it it's a more complete work that contains his previous books and irons out what the consequences are. It's possible you need to have a similar view on history, culture and modernity in place before you appreciate it - I was into stoicism, empiricism and classics in general before I read Taleb - as he's largely using that as "the other side of the barbell" in his explanations, with the first side being mathematical (see his technical online textbook). I've read The Black Swan once or maybe twice, whereas I am already on my third reading of the Antifragile (I can't help myself, it's too relevant).
But maybe there are some tail risks we should really worry about.
and indeed that's what much of Taleb's body of work is about. I am partway through Antifragile and do not find it as compelling as The Black Swan, however.