Don’t Ever Pick Up Another Book Again.
The airport bookstore is a graveyard of forgotten promises.
Business books with titles like “Industrial Complex: Unlocking the Billionaire Code” line the shelves, each promising a shortcut to success for the low price of $24.95.
But these glossy tomes often peddle nothing more than “survivorship bias” disguised as actionable insight.
They cherry-pick the stories of a few outliers, ignoring the countless others who failed spectacularly despite following the same formula.
For those seeking genuine understanding of the forces that shape industries and determine the fate of companies, a trip to the history section is far more rewarding than browsing the latest business bestsellers.
Take, for instance, Barbara Tuchman’s “The Guns of August.”
This seemingly dry history book, chronicling the opening months of World War I, offers a treasure trove of lessons applicable to the modern business landscape.
It’s a masterclass in decision-making under pressure, highlighting the perils of communication breakdowns and the unforeseen consequences of seemingly insignificant…
