The Model Thinker

Choice award for outstanding academic title

Scott Page's The Model Thinker is a deeper dive into the theory of mental models and the math behind them. Page is a professor at the University of Michigan, and his book explores mental models in a wonderful way.

"A tremendously significant book embracing a creative, innovative approach for thinking about the complex mechanisms of social and natural phenomena"

A hands-on reference for the working data scientist, "The Model Thinker" challenges us to consider that the historical methods we have used for data analysis are no longer adequate given the complexity of today's world....What has given this book a place in my permanent library is its deep dives into dozens of models. Equations and the diagrams are here, but so are applications."

"This book offers a remarkably comprehensive and insightful introduction to mathematical models in the social sciences, written by one who is a master of the field and a brilliant teacher."

"An original and thought-provoking book, and a challenging one for a one-model thinker like myself. Brace yourself for an entirely new perspective."

"The clarity of Scott's thinking has been awing me since our days together as doctoral students at Kellogg. Beautifully written, this book teaches us how to stay logical, coherent and effective at work and at life more broadly--amidst a world awash in ever more data, distraction and complexity."

"With the exception of physics, science--and particularly the social sciences--currently resides in a liminal period characterized by hints of universal principles and the tantalizing possibility of robust prediction. In this accessible and pragmatic book, Page persuasively shows us how in these transition periods we can use the wisdom of crowds to improve our decision-making. The twist is that the 'crowd' is not made of individuals but of well-chosen models each of which offers a different window on the world."

"Page explains the value of applying several models to a single problem, and then provides a conceptual toolkit for doing so. His book is a labor of love."