World of Business Summarised in 5 Pages

26 MAR 2020
With our collection of business book summaries, you can get the big picture in 5 pages. From productivity classics like David Allen's "Getting Things Done" to technology primers like William Mougayar's "The Business Blockchain", we've got thousands of big ideas for you to discover.
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Manage teams well

The Coaching Habit (Summary)

Michael Bungay Stanier


Coaching involves much more than just talking to people; it requires posing intelligent questions that inspire your employees to talk about their thoughts, their work and their concerns. Michael Bungay Stanier uses the construct of seven essential coaching questions to teach managers how to coach effectively.

Crucial Conversations – Tools for Talking When Stakes are High (Summary)

Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler


Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy once said, “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” Many people recoil from “crucial conversations”, where they have to negotiate to get ahead. But as the saying goes, “In business, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.”

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Summary)

Patrick Lencioni


Patrick Lencioni offers a satisfactory fable about an executive wrestling to take hold of a company and create a smoothly functioning executive team. Here, the author outlines a detailed model for diagnosing the five dysfunctions of a team and provides exercises and techniques to ameliorate those dysfunctions.

Manage your life

The 100 Year Life (Summary)

Lynda Gratton, Andrew Scott


Celebrating a 100th birthday used to be a rare occurrence. But our lifespans are increasing – in 2009, there were 10 thousand Singaporeans aged 90 years and above; in 2019, there were 19 thousand Singaporeans. The gift of a long life brings unexpected complications. In this well-researched overview, London Business School professors Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott address some of these issues – support yourself during an extended retirement, maintaining beneficial relationships, how to plan for multiple careers.

Change Your Questions, Change Your Life (Summary)

Marilee G. Adams


Marilee G. Adams found that she could generate positive changes in her behaviour and productivity by changing the defensive questions she previously asked in the face of adversity. Asking different questions enabled her to reframe the moment and create growth opportunities.

Finding Your Element (Summary)

Ken Robinson, Lou Aronica


Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica offer a nuts-and-bolts guide to finding work that combines your talents and your passions.

Get Productive

Getting Things Done (Summary)

David Allen


Getting Things Done is one of the most influential business books of the 2000s. “GTD” is now shorthand for an entire way of approaching professional and personal tasks, and has spawned an entire culture of websites, organisation tools, seminars, and offshoots.

The Checklist Manifesto (Summary)

Atul Gawande


The volume and complexity of our knowledge has exceeded our ability to consistently deliver it - correctly, safely or efficiently. Atul Gawande makes a compelling argument for the checklist, which he believes is the most promising method available in surmounting failure.

Deep Work (Summary)

Cal Newport


In an information economy, we need “deep work” – challenging work that requires full focus - to succeed in an information economy, yet people face increasing distractions or social pressure that drive them towards shallow work. Newport provides tips for arranging your life to support deep work, which he sees as valuable, productive and rare.