Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
Beyond robustness - a framework for systems that benefit from volatility and stress
"Wind extinguishes a candle and energizes fire. Likewise with randomness, uncertainty, chaos: you want to use them, not hide from them."
— Nassim Nicholas Taleb
My Review
Taleb introduces the crucial concept that some things benefit from stress. In biology, this is hormesis - the principle behind exercise, vaccination, and stress-response systems. For organizations, it explains why some companies emerge stronger from crises while others collapse. Essential reading.
Why It Matters
Taleb introduces the crucial concept that some things benefit from stress. In biology, this is hormesis - the principle behind exercise, vaccination, and stress-response systems. For organizations, it explains why some companies emerge stronger from crises while others collapse.
Key Ideas
- Some systems gain from disorder, shock, and stress - they're antifragile
- Robustness is not the opposite of fragility - antifragility is
- Small stressors strengthen systems; catastrophic ones destroy them
- Skin in the game is essential for healthy systems
How It Connects to This Framework
Book 8 (Regeneration & Sustainability) and the concept of organizational resilience throughout. The framework's emphasis on stress testing, reserves, and adaptive capacity is directly informed by Taleb's work.
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The full Biology of Business book explores these concepts in depth with practical frameworks.