We live in a time when quick decisions and complexity seem to dominate every sphere, from personal life to business management. However, there are three enlightening books that offer us tools and strategies for dealing with modern challenges: "Insanely Simple" by Ken Segall, "Noise" by Daniel Kahneman and "Cracked it!" by Bernard Garrette. Each work explores a fundamental theme – simplicity, noise reduction, and problem solving – that can revolutionize the way we think and act.

Simplicity: a radical choice

As the creative director of Apple, Ken Segall played a key role in the resurrection of the Cupertino company, helping to create revolutionary campaigns such as "Think Different" and giving the iMac its name. "Insanely Simple" is his insider's view of Jobs' world. It reveals the ten elements of simplicity that have driven Apple's success, which you can use to move your organization forward.

With his book "Insanely Simple", Segall invites us to consider simplicity as a value that is not just an aesthetic but also a strategic one: for this he describes how Steve Jobs made simplicity the cornerstone principle of success. It is not a matter of reducing things to a trivial level, but of eliminating what is not essential to leave room for what really matters.

Simplicity is, paradoxically, complex to achieve. It requires a systematic and bold approach, which often runs up against the tendency toward proliferation and complication. Segall stresses the importance of small, smart, focused teams, capable of operating in an agile manner and with a clear vision. "Simple can be harder than complex".

Jobs was known to say, but it is the only way to create products and processes that not only work but resonate deeply with people.

In a world where "more is better" seems to be the rule, Segall reminds us that less is often more powerful. Apple, with its limited but excellent range of products, is the perfect example of how simplicity can translate into a unique competitive advantage.

Quieting the noise for better decisions

Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, along with Olivier Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein, takes us into the realm of human decision-making with "Noise". Noise, Kahneman explains, is the unwanted variability in human judgments. Unlike bias, which steers errors in a specific direction, noise generates unpredictable dispersion, making inconsistent decisions.

Imagine two doctors giving opposite diagnoses to a patient with the same symptoms, or judges making drastically different rulings for similar cases. Noise is everywhere: in courts, in hospitals, in businesses. Kahneman explains how to recognize it and, more importantly, how to reduce it through what he calls "decision hygiene." Structuring decision-making, seeking independent judgments and adopting a statistical view are some of the strategies suggested.

Reading "Noise", one realizes how often our decisions are influenced by irrational factors. Kahneman does not promise a definitive solution – noise, like bias, is partly unavoidable – but he offers us practical tools to limit its effects, making our decisions more reliable and correct.

Solving complex problems

Bernard Garrette, Corey Phelps and Olivier Sibony, with "Cracked it!", propose a practical method for tackling and solving complex problems. Their methodology, inspired by the best practices of strategy consulting, consists of four steps: define the problem, structure it, find solutions and sell them effectively.

A key element of the book is the importance of avoiding hasty solutions. We are often tempted to accept the first plausible answer, but "Cracked it'" teaches us to think critically, test hypotheses, and consider different perspectives. Through concrete examples and case studies, the authors demonstrate how a rigorous approach can make a difference, not only in business but also in everyday life.

Problem solving is not just a technical skill; it is a skill that requires empathy, imagination and the ability to communicate ideas clearly. With "Cracked it'", Garrette and colleagues offer us an indispensable guide for anyone who wants to excel in an increasingly complex world.

Connecting the dots: simplicity, noise and solutions

What unites these three books is an approach to life and work that emphasizes awareness, precision, and the courage to change. Segall teaches us to simplify, Kahneman to recognize and reduce biases in our judgments, and Garrette to solve problems systematically.

Each of these authors offers us a lens to see the world more clearly and act more effectively. In an age when complexity seems inevitable, their message is a call to take control: reduce the superfluous, improve the quality of decisions, and approach problems methodically and creatively.

The real challenge, as Segall reminds us, is to make these principles part of our DNA, both individually and as an organization. Because, after all, simplicity, precision, and problem-solving skills are not just tools; they are acts of leadership and vision that can transform the way we live and work.