Book Review: Dealing with Uncertainty by Laurie Bowman

Reviewed by Tomi Alo

A valuable, science-based guide to building resilience and making decisions in high-stakes situations

Laurie Bowman helps readers make better, more confident decisions with clarity, even in uncertain and stressful situations, in Dealing with Uncertainty.

This guide digs deep into the mechanics of how our brains work during intense and critical moments and examines how the steps we take in making these decisions matter just as much as the decisions themselves. Whether it’s deciding the budget allocation of a high-end project or simply building a career, the decisions we make affect our lives and the lives of the people around us.

In Dealing with Uncertainty, author Laurie Bowman draws on his years of experience helping governments and organizations across different industries manage risks, deal with uncertain situations, and facilitate change. He frames uncertainty as a tool and opportunity that one should use to gain new perspectives and grow, instead of a threat or an enemy to be defeated. Bowman argues that making good decisions means having a good strategy to navigate uncertain situations with a clear mind, instead of with fear and hesitation.

In seven informative chapters, Bowman balances global leadership stories and the lessons he learned from them with research-backed explanations of the human brain and behavior. There are also reflective exercises and key takeaways to inspire change and drive personal and professional growth.

There are a number of helpful practical strategies included in this book, like PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) for improving decision-making skills and SCARF (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness) for understanding how to avoid risks in difficult or uncertain situations. Bowman integrates these strategies with real-life application, especially when reflecting on his own mistakes and what he’d do differently.

Bowman also introduces techniques for mindfulness (such as Dadirri and Shinrin-yok), gratitude, resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence. This book offers real ways to build stronger connections and relationships, resolve conflicts, and become more confident in handling challenging situations. Your mindset will be stronger after reading this book, I’m sure of it.

Though the book is easy to read, it can be a little overwhelming. Even with the personal anecdotes from Bowman’s career and others, there are a lot of scientific details, frameworks, and in-text references from research studies that make the book feel sometimes more like a textbook than a self-help guide. It takes effort, patience, and willingness to understand the “why” behind the way we approach situations.

Bowman’s wealth of experience in various senior roles and global projects will appeal to professionals, business owners, managers, and team leaders who are looking for an in-depth way to sharpen their decision-making skills. The mix of research, case studies, and personal lessons makes it a useful reference for those who work in high-pressure environments where data isn’t enough to make the decisions.

Dealing with Uncertainty is a scientifically-driven guide that offers the tools, insights, and strategies to navigate uncertainties in our professional and personal lives.

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