The Art of Playing Defense: How to Get Ahead by Not Falling Behind 

236 pages

Published May 18, 2021 by Lioncrest Publishing

In The Art of Playing Defense, Whitney Tilson talks about what it takes to have a full and rewarding life.

From the introduction:

To be successful and enjoy a happy life, it’s important to do all the right things: Become well-educated and wise, develop a strong work ethic, always act with integrity, and treat others well.

What’s equally important (but widely overlooked) is avoiding the calamities that can cause you to suffer, go back to square one, or worst of all, die a premature death.

I’m a fan of Whitney Tilson. Ever since he began writing for one of my client companies several years ago, I’ve been enjoying his blog posts on the economy, the pandemic, and finance. He’s smart. He’s knowledgeable.  He’s experienced. But most impressive to me, he’s not a conventional thinker. His views on topics ranging from investing to politics to physical fitness are often very different from mine.

And that’s what I’m liking about The Art of Playing Defense. When he states something that I agree with, it makes me feel smart. When he says something I disagree with, I feel even smarter.

Critical Reception: 

I couldn’t find any “official” reviews for this book, but here are a few reviews posted by readers on Amazon:

* “Tilson efficiently packs a ton of wisdom about risk taking and intelligently avoiding preventable disaster…. Highly recommended!”

* “Whitney gives great practical advice on how NOT TO MESS UP your life by controlling what you can control. Quick read, definitely worth it for the less conventional wisdom that you don’t often read.”

* “I enjoyed the numerous insights Tilson provided – from the importance of judgement often coming from ‘your worst 1%’ to how to find, engage, and build a long-term relationship with a mentor to the benefits of becoming a learning machine. Great advice, and definitely worth a read!”

And from Alison Tilson, the author’s 25-year-old daughter: “My dad’s ‘12 Questions to Ask Before You Marry Someone’ list has helped me boil down the most important qualities to look for in a life partner. He has instilled in me that picking the right person is critical to my happiness in life. I know that his list will help me make that all-important decision someday!”