The Bed of Procrustes：Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

Inthisprofoundandplayfulbook,NassimNicholasTalebpresentshisideasaboutlifeintheformofaphorisms,theworld'searliest-andmostmemorable-literaryform.ProcrusteswasacharacterfromGreekmythologywhoabductedtravellersandinvitedthemtospendthenightinaspecialbed,whichtheyhadtofittoperfection.Theyneverdid.Thosewhoweretootallhadtheirlegschoppedoff;thosewhoweretooshortwerestretched.EveryaphorismhereisaboutaProcrusteanbedofsorts-wehumans,facingthelimitsofourknowledge,theunseenandtheunknown,resolvethetensionbysqueezinglifeandtheworldintocrispcommoditizedideas,reductivecategories,specificvocabulariesandpre-packagednarratives.Onlybyembracingtheunexpected-andacceptingwhatwedon'tknow-canweseetheworldasitreallyis.