Michele WuckerYou Are What You Risk: The New Art and Science of Navigating an Uncertain World

I've read a lot about risk, mainly from a finance and economics perspective. These fields tend to treat risk as simple variance--and individual differences as merely a willingness to tolerate or welcome wide variance. This book is different. It goes far beyond the simple notions of risk tolerance and risk aversion to see risk as a multi-dimensional concept. For example, it is the only book I've seen that describes an individual's approach to risk in terms of the product of many factors, including situational factors like culture and social support, which of course can vary over time. (One of the practical consequences of this level of analysis is a deeper understanding of why someone might have an attitude different from your own--an idea the author calls "risk empathy.") By taking this multi-dimensional approach, Wucker also helps resolve a prevalent puzzle: the question of why someone might be cautious in some areas of their lives yet bold or even reckless in other areas.In terms of presentation, the book is a great mix of engaging stories, rigorous research from a variety of fields, and thoughtful analysis. If you deal with risk in your personal or professional life (and really, who doesn't?), I think you'll find this book both interesting and useful.

Once again, Michelle Wucker delivers a first-rate, expertly researched, but ultimately PRACTICAL guide that's focused on improving leadership and organizational functioning. In it, she explores the human factors that influence how each of us thinks about risk AND how these differences ultimately impact individual/group risk calculations.For anyone in a position of influence, this is essential reading as she helps to uncover WHY people think about risk differently, which—if you understand and are able to recognize these factors—will increase your ability to persuade others, address concerns, and build consensus.

If you are a finance buff or a b-school graduate like me, you’ve been introduced to risk as an inert Greek symbol, a mean-squared error or an industry beta. In Wucker’s “You Are What You Risk” you come face-to-face with risk as a living and breathing entity that lives in your shadow. Your risk fingerprint is “the combination of your underlying personality disposition, your experiences, and how you choose to act in a variety of situations.”Wucker leaves no corner for risk to hide in, taking a crack at it from every imaginable angle– covering aspects as disparate as gender, geography, beliefs, reason and emotions, and even neurobiology. But this book teaches us about risk pragmatically, bringing it to life brilliantly through examples and stories – opening with Annie Edson Taylor’s ride in 1901 over the Niagara Falls in a pickle-barrel drum to Wucker’s own personal struggles managing the risks of her celiac disease.As a student of decision architecture, I see risk and choice as intimately connected. One doesn't exist without the other. Thus, for anyone with an interest in the science of decision making, this book becomes an essential tool in understanding the full picture. Ultimately, by making you more self-aware of your own risk personality and that of those around you, Wucker helps you liberate yourself from the fear of risk and focuses you on choices that are richer and more purposeful.

You Are What You Risk is one of those rare-and-beautiful books that stops you in your tracks and makes you wonder: How you I have made it through life without a better understanding of my risk profile? => and then helps you fix that, pronto. The "risk fingerprint" concept is a powerful tool for individuals, organizations, and policy makers alike. I hope to see "risk literacy" become something we learn and teach at all ages as a result of this book. Michele has made a tremendous contribution to the world!

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to take crazy risks while others run to the exits as soon as you start talking about risk? This book explains the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of how people build their own risk boundaries. Since Michele has traveled the world, we also get to see the ‘East meets West’ risk differences and how your early experiences flavor your risk profile no matter where you originate. Her book is packed with examples and stories that reinforce her messages around risk at so many levels, personal, societal, etc..- Karen F Cornwell, author of You Can’t Fix What You Can’t See: An Eye-Opening Toolkit to Cultivate Gender Harmony in Business.

Risk is something we're all aware of, yet don't think about on a macro scale. Wucker's new book is captivating, engaging, and inspiring--it made me want to think differently about risks, perceived and real, in my own life and work. Highly recommended reading.

Meh bookAlso, pages 199 and 200 have a duplicate paragraphThe beginning of the book was solid, but as it progressed it seemed like an exercise in getting to 250 pages

This will transform how you think about risk. Humanity, humor, wit and insight throughout. Buy it!

Michele Wucker is a gifted author.She writes from such a broad thought base and appeals to a wide-ranging audience.The book is ideal for anyone, from a teenager trying to figure themselves out to an adult struggling to understand themselves to a Fortune 500 CEO it appeals to all of us.Her research shines through and she certainly does not "Risk" leaving the reader short-changed.All in all, a great read, she always leaves you enlightended.My favourite term from the book: "Risk Fingerprint" and hence the cover.

In a sense, it's the natural follow-up reading of the earlier, well deserved best-seller The Grat Rhino

only one good chapter.