In this interesting read, the authors look at everyday human behaviours through the lens of computer algorithms in a mission to find better solutions to common problems. This is an interesting premise with mixed results.

They discuss problems such as optimal stopping (when to stop looking), sorting, caching (when to forget things), scheduling, overfitting (when to think less), networking and game theory (judging the minds of others).

The chapters are packed full of historical, philosophical and psychological references which make it easy to read. Not all of the discussions are conclusive, and sometimes the answers are pretty obvious. How to stop overfitting and think less? Set pre-defined limits on the number of options you want to consider, and when you reach that number stop.