Description

Robert Rubin former secretary of the Treasury and cochairman of Goldman Sachs shares thoughts on decisionmaking developed over more than six decades in markets business government and politics and offers readers an astute and original guide for navigating uncertain times

In 1958 as a college sophomore Robert Rubin took a class that changed his life The class was introduction to philosophy and the professor Raphael Demos instilled in his students an idea that was simple yet profound There is no such thing as certainty For Rubin this led to a critically important question How can we make sound decisions in a fundamentally uncertain world

While serving in some of the most significant roles in markets business and government Rubin has grappled with that question Time and again when faced with a highstakes decision he turned to his most trusted tool a simple yellow legal pad Rubins yellow pad or more recently his iPad became an expression of a larger decisionmaking philosophy that has both lasted and shaped a lifetime In The Yellow Pad Rubin lays out that philosophy with depth and detail and presents a compelling intellectual framework for confronting some of the most difficult issues we face today

The Yellow Pad contains a former Treasury secretarys approach to economic policymaking A former Goldman Sachs senior partners approach to personal investing and understanding risk A former director of the National Economic Councils approach to managing people in both private and publicsector organizations And much more Yet despite his lifetime of experiences Rubin remains refreshingly openminded interested in exploring ideas rather than promoting ideologies With its combination of wisdom and relevance The Yellow Pad is an essential guide for anyone looking to make better decisions in life work and public policy