Factfulness
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Inspired by a conversation I had with Mirko Menden about his latest reads, I decided to re-read Factfulness. It starts with a 13-question multiple choice test about the world and our (mis-)understanding. I proudly got 5 out 13 (38%), managing to outscore Rosling’s chimpanzees, whom at random would have attained 33%. Phew 😅! I knew that MBA would come in handy.
Factfulness is based on the premise that people misinterpret facts causing an overdramatic worldview 🌎. Due to our exaggerated and instinctive reactions to the data and information we are presented with, Rosling shares an alternative way of thinking or in his own words, he presents “data as therapy”.
The book is divided into 10 “dramatic instincts” responsible for our misconceived worldview. The cause of each instinct and how they have clouded our perception of the world are thoroughly explained, supported with examples, graphs 📊, and figures. In each chapter, Rosling provides insights and advice on how to be more aware of our ingrained reactions and how to think more critically to battle and control our misleading instincts.
I had a bewildering 😳 moment while reading the book. In one of the chapters, Rosling touches upon “the five global risks we should be worrying about”. Could you guess which one is the first one he mentions? Disclaimer alert: A Global Pandemic. I immediately checked the year Factfulness was first published, while collecting my jaw from its drop: 2018.
Since early 2020, we have been bombarded with data about COVID-19 cases, infection rates, vaccination 💉 percentages, etc., which could be overwhelming if one takes the numbers at face-value and does not pause to think critically. Rosling provides a relevant framework to form a more matter-of-fact worldview. Beyond that, the book can be applied to business settings, where data has taken a protagonist role. Making Factfulness part of our daily personal and professional lives could result essential to ensure that data is not misleading the way.
🤔 Reflections for you: How often do you think critically about the facts and figures you are exposed to? How do you decide the relevancy or challenge the data you are presented with in your daily and professional life?
