Nassim Taleb
Nassim Taleb is a globally renowned scholar, risk analyst, and former options trader, widely regarded as one of the leading thinkers on probability, uncertainty, and complex systems. He serves as the Distinguished Professor of Risk Engineering at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering, where his research focuses on the properties of systems that thrive under volatility and disorder. Taleb is best known as the author of the Incerto series, a five-volume exploration of randomness, risk, and decision-making that includes Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, The Bed of Procrustes, Antifragile, and Skin in the Game. Collectively, these works have reshaped modern understanding of risk management, economics, and decision theory. Beyond his books, Taleb has published more than 70 scholarly papers in fields such as mathematical statistics, quantitative finance, statistical physics, economics, philosophy, and ethics, all centered around the nature of risk and probability. Earlier in his career, he spent over two decades as a professional risk trader with institutions including Credit Suisse, UBS, and BNP Paribas in New York and London, as well as a pit trader in Chicago, giving him practical experience that continues to inform his academic and philosophical work.
Nassim Taleb Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Distinguished Professor of Risk Engineering
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Distinguished Research Scholar
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Visiting Research Professor
Academic History
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Ph.D., Management Science
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Master of Business Administration
INCERTO
Fooled by Randomness (2001)
This book introduces Taleb’s central idea: that humans consistently underestimate the role of randomness in success and failure. Using examples from trading, business, and everyday life, Taleb argues that many outcomes we attribute to skill are actually the result of chance.
The Black Swan (2007)
Taleb’s most famous work, The Black Swan, explores the impact of rare, unpredictable, high-impact events—from financial crises to technological breakthroughs.
The Bed of Procrustes (2010)
A collection of aphorisms, this book distills Taleb’s philosophical insights on risk, modernity, decision-making, and human behavior into short, thought-provoking reflections.
Antifragile (2012)
Taleb introduces his groundbreaking concept of antifragility—systems that don’t just survive shocks and volatility but actually grow stronger because of them.
Skin in the Game (2018)
The final volume focuses on the ethical and practical importance of having real risk and accountability in decision-making. Taleb argues that systems work best when decision-makers share in the risks of their choices, whether in politics, business, or daily life.
EARLY CAREER & PUBLICATIONS
Nassim Taleb has authored numerous scholarly papers spanning mathematical statistics, quantitative finance, economics, philosophy, and risk management, all unified by his focus on uncertainty, probability, and decision-making.
His research has influenced disciplines as diverse as investment management, economics, medicine, public policy, and complex systems theory.
Taleb has held academic positions at leading institutions, including New York University and the London Business School, and is a frequent contributor to global debates on risk, fragility, and resilience.
Beyond academia, he has advised heads of state, U.S. government agencies, and international organizations on issues such as model error, systemic fragility, and the detection and mitigation of extreme tail risks.
Before his academic career, Taleb spent 21 years as a derivatives trader, during which he executed more than 650,000 option transactions and analyzed over 200,000 risk reports.
RECOGNITIONS
2018 Wolfram Award for Innovation
2011 Bloomberg's 50 Most Influential People
2015 Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute's Thought Leaders
2009 Forbes Most Influential Management Gurus
2009 Thinkers 50