Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (Hardcover)

“Skin in the Game: Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life” is a book written by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a Lebanese-American scholar, statistician, and former trader. The book was published in 2018 and is part of Taleb’s Incerto series, which also includes works like “Fooled by Randomness,” “The Black Swan,” “Antifragile,” and “The Bed of Procrustes.”

In “Skin in the Game,” Taleb explores the concept of having a personal stake or exposure to risk in decisions and actions. He argues that having “skin in the game” is essential for making robust and ethical decisions in various aspects of life, including finance, politics, and everyday choices. Taleb criticizes systems and individuals who lack personal accountability for the consequences of their decisions.

The book delves into topics such as the role of skin in the game in various professions, the nature of systems that encourage or discourage accountability, and the impact of asymmetry in risk and reward. Taleb draws on his experiences in finance, his understanding of probability and randomness, and his philosophical outlook to present his arguments in an engaging and thought-provoking manner.