In this fascinating book, "New Yorker business columnist James Surowiecki explores a deceptively simple idea: Large groups of people are "smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant-better at solving problems, fostering innovation, coming to wise decisions, even predicting the future.
With boundless erudition and in delightfully clear prose, Surowiecki ranges across fields as diverse as popular culture, psychology, ant biology, behavioral economics, artificial intelligence, military history, and politics to show how this simple idea offers important lessons for how we live our lives, select our leaders, run our companies, and think about our world.

Reviews

"As entertaining and thought-provoking as The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.... The Wisdom of Crowds ranges far and wide." -"The Boston Globe""A fun, intriguing read-and a concept with enormous potential for CEOs and politicos alike." -"Newsweek""This book is not just revolutionary but essential reading for everyone."-"Christian Science Monitor""Provocative....Musters ample proof that the payoff from heeding collective intelligence is greater than many of us imagine." -"BusinessWeek""There's no danger of dumbing down for the masses who read this singular book." -"Entertainment Weekly""Clearly and persuasively written." -"Newsday""Convincingly argues that under the right circumstances, it's the crowd that's wiser than even society's smartest individuals. "New Yorker "business columnist Surowiecki enlivens his argument with dozens of illuminating anecdotes and case studies from business, social psychology, sports and everyday life." -"Entertainment Weekly""The author has a knack for