Most people would rather fake an answer than admit ignorance. But "thinking like a freak" starts with a blank slate. If you can't admit what you don't know, you'll never be able to learn what you need to solve the problem. 2. Think Like a Child
We’re taught from a young age that "quitters never win," but Levitt and Dubner argue that quitting is often the most rational thing you can do. Sunk costs (the time or money you've already spent) shouldn't dictate your future. Quitting what doesn't work frees up your resources to find what does. Think Like a Freak
if you don't pay attention to how people actually respond to them. 4. The Upside of Quitting Most people would rather fake an answer than admit ignorance
To solve the world's toughest problems—or just your own—you have to be willing to be a "Freak." Here’s how to start retraining your brain based on their unconventional blueprint. 1. The Three Hardest Words: "I Don't Know" Quitting what doesn't work frees up your resources
Retrain Your Brain: Why You Should "Think Like a Freak" We’ve all been there: staring at a problem that feels impossible, following the "standard" advice, and getting absolutely nowhere. In their book , Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner (the duo behind the Freakonomics phenomenon ) argue that the reason we get stuck is that we’re thinking like everyone else.