The Library | 100MentalModels

top of page

Why Mental Models?

Why Mental Models?

Why Mental Models?

Sep 2625 min read

A stylized silhouette of a person sitting or standing, with a glowing, red, "low battery" icon superimposed over their chest

A stylized silhouette of a person sitting or standing, with a glowing, red, "low battery" icon superimposed over their chest

The Law of Conservation. Why You're Broke, Burnt Out, and Unmotivated

Sep 186 min read

A split-panel sketch showing a light-colored moth on a clean tree and a dark-colored moth on a soot-covered tree.

A split-panel sketch showing a light-colored moth on a clean tree and a dark-colored moth on a soot-covered tree.

Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. Why Things that Survive Survive

Sep 112 min read

Solving Unsolvable Problems.

Solving Unsolvable Problems.

Solving Unsolvable Problems.

Sep 46 min read

Investor following a plan instead of getting distracted by emotions

Investor following a plan instead of getting distracted by emotions

Don't Let Your Brain Wreck Your Portfolio. How to Overcome Bias in Investing

Sep 36 min read

A drawing of a tidy house slowly decaying and becoming a pile of rubble.

A drawing of a tidy house slowly decaying and becoming a pile of rubble.

The Law of Entropy. Why Buying More Won't Solve Your Problems

Aug 212 min read

A split-panel sketch showing a person confused by a complex path and another person confidently stepping over pitfalls.

A split-panel sketch showing a person confused by a complex path and another person confidently stepping over pitfalls.

Inversion. The Mental Model of Thinking Backward to Win Forward

Aug 166 min read

A split-panel sketch illustrating The Framing Effect. On the left, a person smiles happily while looking at a yogurt labeled "99% Fat-Free". On the right, the same person looks concerned and hesitant while looking at an identical yogurt labeled "Contains 1% Fat.

A split-panel sketch illustrating The Framing Effect. On the left, a person smiles happily while looking at a yogurt labeled "99% Fat-Free". On the right, the same person looks concerned and hesitant while looking at an identical yogurt labeled "Contains 1% Fat.

The Framing Effect. How a Single Word Changes Your Mind

Aug 162 min read

The Anchoring Effect. Negotiate Your Salary Like an Expert

The Anchoring Effect. Negotiate Your Salary Like an Expert

The Anchoring Effect. Negotiate Your Salary Like an Expert

Aug 168 min read

A split-panel sketch showing that the pain of losing is greater than the pleasure of gaining. On the left, a person has a small smile while finding $100. On the right, the same person has an intensely pained and exaggerated expression while dropping $100.

A split-panel sketch showing that the pain of losing is greater than the pleasure of gaining. On the left, a person has a small smile while finding $100. On the right, the same person has an intensely pained and exaggerated expression while dropping $100.

Overcoming Loss Aversion for Smarter Investing

Aug 166 min read

How can I spot a complicated reality disguised as a simple narrative?

How can I spot a complicated reality disguised as a simple narrative?

The Narrative Fallacy. Why we Simplify a Complicated World

Aug 162 min read

A split-panel sketch showing WWII bombers with bullet holes and engineers reinforcing the damaged areas.

A split-panel sketch showing WWII bombers with bullet holes and engineers reinforcing the damaged areas.

How Business Pre-Mortem Planning can Solve Survivorship Bias

Aug 166 min read

A person with a magnifying glass on a 5-star review while ignoring a 1-star review, illustrating confirmation bias.

A person with a magnifying glass on a 5-star review while ignoring a 1-star review, illustrating confirmation bias.

Confirmation Bias. Why are we so stubborn?

Aug 162 min read

A graph of the Dunning-Kruger effect, plotting confidence against competence.

A graph of the Dunning-Kruger effect, plotting confidence against competence.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect. Confidence vs. Competence

Aug 162 min read

What is Healthy Food in 2025? The Answer is Centuries Old.

What is Healthy Food in 2025? The Answer is Centuries Old.

What is Healthy Food in 2025? The Answer is Centuries Old.

Aug 166 min read

A split-panel sketch showing that improvement comes from subtraction, not addition. On the left, a frustrated sculptor fails to add clay to a marble block. On the right, the same sculptor confidently creates a statue by chiseling away, or subtracting, from the marble.

A split-panel sketch showing that improvement comes from subtraction, not addition. On the left, a frustrated sculptor fails to add clay to a marble block. On the right, the same sculptor confidently creates a statue by chiseling away, or subtracting, from the marble.

Via Negativa. How to Improve Your Life by Subtracting

Aug 162 min read

A three-panel sketch contrasting "Fragile" (a breaking cup), "Robust" (an intact steel ball), and "Antifragile" (a muscle growing stronger from lifting weights).

A three-panel sketch contrasting "Fragile" (a breaking cup), "Robust" (an intact steel ball), and "Antifragile" (a muscle growing stronger from lifting weights).

Antifragility. Why Resilience is Not Good Enough

Aug 162 min read

A black-and-white sketch divided into two panels. The left panel shows numerous white swans swimming peacefully on a lake under a clear sky. The right panel shows a single, stark black swan abruptly appearing on the same lake, causing ripples and disrupting the scene.

A black-and-white sketch divided into two panels. The left panel shows numerous white swans swimming peacefully on a lake under a clear sky. The right panel shows a single, stark black swan abruptly appearing on the same lake, causing ripples and disrupting the scene.

The Black Swan Theory. Risk Management for Black Swan Events

Aug 167 min read

A sketch showing a donut's short-term pleasure and its long-term negative consequences.

A sketch showing a donut's short-term pleasure and its long-term negative consequences.

Second-Order Thinking. How to Think Beyond Immediate Consequences

Aug 162 min read

A split-panel showing a choice between malice and a mistake, representing Hanlon's Razor.

A split-panel showing a choice between malice and a mistake, representing Hanlon's Razor.

Hanlon's Razor for Conflict Resolution. A Mental Model to Reduce Stress

Aug 166 min read

bottom of page