In a 45 minute read, a former spy introduces two simple tools for thinking. The first describes how we think. The second helps us think ahead. They are the essential tools for getting things done in stressful situations.
The tools are applied to an incident where a spy faces a new enemy. Then used to describe the CIA's role in intelligence-gathering. Finally, they're applied to Saddam Hussein's stockpiling (or not) of weapons of mass destruction.
Are the thinking tools simple? Yes. Are they easy to use under stress? No. When breakdowns happen, we need to go back to fundamentals. The fundamentals are laid out here. Â