How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World That Demands Answers

Review Quotes:
In an age of phony certainty and performative confidence, Simone Stolzoff offers something radical: permission not to have all the answers. This spectacular, deeply researched book shows that the most successful people and institutions are those who invite doubt and dissent.--Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Power of Regret and Drive

Review Quotes:
How to Not Know is a deeply insightful and refreshingly honest exploration of uncertainty--how it shapes our choices, relationships, and sense of self. Drawing from psychology, history, Zen philosophy, and lived experience, this compelling book is an invitation to find clarity not in certainty, but in curiosity.--Charles Duhigg, best-selling author of Supercommunicators and The Power of Habit

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A must-read for our time--wise, compassionate, and deeply human. It will help you find steadiness amid life's unpredictability and discover the freedom that comes from not having all the answers.--Lori Gottlieb, New York Times best-selling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

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It's rare for a book to be so insightful and narratively compelling. How to Not Know will change the way you approach uncertainty, helping you navigate the unknown with confidence and grace.--Annie Duke, best-selling author of Thinking In Bets

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Simone Stolzoff makes a convincing case that learning to tolerate uncertainty has become an immensely valuable skill in our current moment of technological and political upheaval.--Cal Newport, New York Times best-selling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work

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Clear, grounded, and profound, this book will change how you meet uncertainty.--Anne-Laure Le Cunff, neuroscientist and author of Tiny Experiments

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At a moment when reading the news sometimes feels like playing Russian roulette, this makes for a fascinating, surprisingly uplifting look at the biases that make us want to predict the future and the unexpected benefits of surrendering control.-- "Publishers Weekly"

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A deeply soothing cultural corrective.--Meaghan O'Connell "Harper's Bazaar"

Publisher Marketing:

From our careers to our politics to our personal lives, the future is unknown. And yet, our capacity to tolerate this uncertainty is in decline. How to Not Know will help you prepare for and even appreciate the uncertainty that surrounds us.

Through gripping stories of people grappling with big problems without easy answers from an economist trying to predict the next market crash to an island nation reckoning with the existential impact of climate change acclaimed journalist Simone Stolzoff shows how to develop comfort with ambiguity and build tolerance for the unknown.

Blending engrossing storytelling, research, and practical insights, How to Not Know is an essential guide to navigating uncertainty with courage and clarity.

Review Citations:

• Publishers Weekly 04/27/2026 (EAN 9781324089452, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Stolzoff, Simone
Simone Stolzoff is a journalist and author from San Francisco. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and on the TED stage. His debut book, The Good Enough Job, was translated into over a dozen languages.