In Antifragile (2012), Nassim Nicholas Taleb argues that "antifragility" has been crucial for human progress throughout history. Unlike mere durability, which resists damage, antifragile systems actually grow stronger when faced with challenges—much like the Hydra of myth, which sprouts two heads for each one cut off. Taleb critiques modern society’s efforts to eliminate volatility, particularly in systems like the economy. To thrive, we must embrace uncertainty and leverage it to our advantage, as it is essential for growth and resilience.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a prominent academic and author known for bestselling books like The Black Swan and Fooled by Randomness. With a deep focus on uncertainty, probability, and how systems respond to disorder, Taleb has spent decades exploring these themes both as a risk taker and a scholar. He currently holds the position of Distinguished Professor of Risk Engineering at New York University. Beyond his academic career, Taleb has written the Incerto series, which delves into the practical and philosophical aspects of randomness, and has published numerous scholarly papers in related fields.