Reviewed 07/2007

While not a concept we'd commonly associate with having value for our work in quality, this lighthearted, entertaining, and engaging book provides thoughtful information for our personal and professional lives. What theoretically separates the human race from other animals is our ability to consciously plan for the future and not only react to the immediate situation. Gilbert questions that if that is the case, why do we continue to make bad decisions, repeat our previous errors, and continue to struggle to reach a state of "happiness."

While not a "how to" book, Gilbert uses many stories, cites many studies in human behavior, and raises many issues which will cause the reader to reassess many of our personal beliefs and perhaps a few of our thoughts on professional behavior. From dealing with the impact of "control" on our state of being, to identifying the limits of our innate ability to objectively assess situations, to our pathetic efforts to plan for the distant future, there is much for thought in this short but very readable book. The book identifies many of the very "human" limitations of behavior which we need to consider when designing our processes for improving care.

Those who've read Daniel Schwartz's book, The Paradox of Choice, will see many similarities, but this is a great complementary element to that work (likely to be profiled in a later review). As we plan our processes to increase quality, ensure safety, and drive reliability, the concepts presented here could be a useful construct for developing specific interventions. Some may question the association, but many will see the potential connections. I find myself using the information from the book on a daily basis, and reflecting on the impact this short, but elegant piece of literature has had on my approach to my life as well as my work at ICSI.