Welcome back! This week we’re continuing our discussion of The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streaks by Ben Cohen. We’re up to chapter 5, and in two weeks — June 26 — we’ll finish the book.
Look in your inbox this coming week for the vote on the next books! Email me suggestions you’ve got but I’ve put together a really great slate you’re going to enjoy.
Some things to kick us off:
This week, we get to the controversy of the hot hand, the difficulties in proving it and the debates surrounding it. What’s your read on these fights?
What are situations were ignoring the illusion of a hot hand — like farming — come up in your life? When is it best to not optimize?
What’s something in your world that everyone kind of thinks is the case but maybe there’s not a whole lot of proof behind it?
I liked how they pointed out in the casino research that they’re studying behavior but inferring what people are thinking. I actually think a lot of casino players might not believe the wheel *is* random — that it’s somehow rigged and they really are trying to beat the “system.” So it might not be much of a hot hand issue? But the umpire stuff was really interesting, too!
1931 Naismith Drive! Why not call it basketball?! SuperStat!!! I've been in an endless number of arguments and I've won them all, yet I didn't convince a soul!!!! So many great stories and interesting people I can't just pick one favorite. I'm really enjoying this book!
I liked how they pointed out in the casino research that they’re studying behavior but inferring what people are thinking. I actually think a lot of casino players might not believe the wheel *is* random — that it’s somehow rigged and they really are trying to beat the “system.” So it might not be much of a hot hand issue? But the umpire stuff was really interesting, too!
My answer to the last two is the same thing: SPOTIFY.IS.NOT.RANDOM.
Maybe for a hot minute in its earliest days, but it is absolutely. NOT random now. Not in a world where engagement = revenue.
With all that said, I’ll definitely start to look at the world as more random than I’m perhaps comfortable admitting after reading these chapters.
1931 Naismith Drive! Why not call it basketball?! SuperStat!!! I've been in an endless number of arguments and I've won them all, yet I didn't convince a soul!!!! So many great stories and interesting people I can't just pick one favorite. I'm really enjoying this book!