I wish Tim Harford narrated this book :(

This could be a great book - but I'll never know because the tone and style of the narration is a terrible match to the content and tone of the book, and totally put me off! Tim Harford is an engaging speaker, there is a lightness to the way he explains even the most complex subjects, if only he'd narrated this book. Unfortunately the narrator used has a drool, serious and supercilious tone which is as off putting as his hissing sibilant sounds.

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Thought provoking

Gets very complicated around 3/4 the way through, going into technical details about oil rigs and banks. I found myself tuning out. But the book ends strongly and for the most part I found it very thought provoking.

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Worth a read, but repeats a bit much in the middle

Good book, the first and last third parts especially, the middle third was a bit dull though.

would recommend, but once you finish the first third you know everything as the examples just repeat the principle.

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Clever, entertaining and well narrated!

What an interesting and unusual book, and read in a clear, straightforward style. I have to disagree with the previous reviewer about incorrect inflection. Judge for yourself, but I found the no-nonsense narration easy and enjoyable to listen to.

"Adapt" is a practical application of complexity theory to modern life. As such it challenges many common sense assumptions. Failure is often the prelude to success, because it involves experiment, which allows us to learn, if we can recognise, admit and understand our mistakes.

The case examples are interesting, from the "toaster project" to the overturning of Rumsfeldt's disasterous central planning of the Iraq war, to the building of the first Spitfire through the persistence of a maverick civil servant and the generosity of an eccentric female philanthropist. Perhaps there are a few too many military examples. However, I really enjoyed this audiobook.

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3 people found this helpful

Fede bog vettu

Aell Aell
Lo litt, lerte litt, Fiine.
Guddnt me lüdbog når du e sledn itte büen??

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A rising star

Tim Harford gets better and better, now with a whole thoughtful book exploring the concept of evolution as applied to markets and other complex systems. He is really becoming the UK's Paul Krugman with his colourful analogies that bring to life economic concepts for the lay person - Coco bonds as airbags and 'economic Bulldogs' for the unintended consequences of well intended policy. So why only four stars? Well, most unfortunately, Tim (who, as we all know, is himself a highly competent presenter, well able to read his own book) delegated this task to some actor who decided to deliver various lengthily quoted passages in the supposedly appropriate accent. So Adam Smith appears with a rich scottish burr, and various Americans with a transatlantic drawl. This is irritating and unnecessary (and probably inaccurate) but tolerable. It becomes unbearable when we have third world economists such as Muhammad Yunus (founder of the Grameen bank). The narrator can't actually face the horror of putting on a faux-Bengali accent so he does a sort of 'humble peasant voice' instead. Made me squirm. Tim - read your own books - please.

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12 people found this helpful

reverting read

loved it I've now started branching my own research into the different avenues that he directed me to and great guide to my own enterprises

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ditch the accents

fascinating account, slightly marred by the jarring accents of the narrator - no need for them.

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Fantastic read

One of the best books I have heard / read. For me a convincing tour de force.

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2 people found this helpful

is a cracker if your in to this sort of book

he tends to dwell on examples a bit long, but it's fascinating and charming written.

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