Deming is awesome and I love his contribution to the world.
That having been said, I don't think of it as seminal to strategy thinking. In many respects, I see him as the King of operating imperatives. If you don't do what he says, you are stupid. That isn't a strategic choice.
Interesting list. Personally, I would swap out The Art of War for On War. I find the former far too difficult to interpret in a practical way, and often contradictory too. On War, despite being 200 years old, feels of direct practical value, and I have used it to help direct strategic work within my business. For example, Sun Tzu says "don't press a defeated enemy too hard", whereas Clausewitz says "press home your advantage", which seems like a more aligned with Playing to Win.
I don't know about top ten, but my top two are On War, and of course Playing to Win!
Ben: As I indicated, I was angst-ridden about that decision. I probably should have done 11 and put two military strategy books on the list. Von Clausewitz is such a great thinker. If he was a 21st century guy, he would be a business strategy genius. Let's consider it a top 11. Best, Roger
As an economist by training, seeing Herbert Simon on here is incredibly validating. Mainstream economics often gets trapped in hyper-formalized game theory, treating strategy like a math problem to be optimized.
Seeing strategy as a design proces also resonates. One of the key elements of our Built to Deliver methodology rereplaces traditional strategic planning with a "Design Studio" process that relies on co-construction rather than top-down analysis, with the understanding that great strategy isn't about uncovering a static truth, it's about the iterative craft of human system design.
Thank you Roger! Is “strategy beyond the hockey stick” an example of the fallacy of data driven “what we must do”? I find it unique in that it tells us how to know whether our bets are big enough, akin to don’t play to play. Maybe I misapplied it, but do you recommend the book?
Thanks so much. That is helpful - for one of the most inaccessible thinkers important to strategy. I have just ordered it! Want to see the format and may recommend it going forward.
What a genuinely refreshing list - and a real eye-opener. Most "must-read for strategists" posts are predictable processions of the same business titles (Blue Ocean Strategy comes to mind), so seeing seven out of ten picks drawn from outside business literature entirely says something important.
It makes perfect sense when you think about it: strategy is ultimately about human choices, which means a great strategist needs to understand how people think and behave long before they start designing competitive moves. And that knowledge lives mostly outside business books.
This is a timely nudge for me personally. I've had a glimpse of this thinking - I referenced The Art of War in one of my recent articles - but your list is a reminder to look much more deliberately beyond the usual box. Thank you for curating something with real intellectual courage behind it.
Alex: Glad you liked it and I totally resonate with thoughts on it. If you can't understand how humans make choices, good luck to you in strategy. Best, R
Some still in my to read list. I will also take the liberty in suggesting not only Deming, but another two of my favourites that I invite you to consider as well, Eli Goldratt and Nicholas Taleb. The first developed a framework of cause-effect hierarchies that could build up any strategic construct, and the later mainly deals with risk management fundamentals.
Nice to see a list that doesn't mention the author of the post. :-)
I would add Richard Whittington's Opening Strategy to the list, as it is the best book to understand where strategy itself came from and where it's heading.
Spoiler alert: it's heading in the direction of Open Strategy. I think the title gave it away a bit.
Richard Rumelt
Just not enough of a contribution to be on the top 10 list. I know lots of folks like it but compared to the top 10, it isn't in the league.
Excellent list, thanks for this, Roger. Is Deming not competition-oriented enough to warrant a place on the list?
Deming is awesome and I love his contribution to the world.
That having been said, I don't think of it as seminal to strategy thinking. In many respects, I see him as the King of operating imperatives. If you don't do what he says, you are stupid. That isn't a strategic choice.
But he is awesome.
Interesting list. Personally, I would swap out The Art of War for On War. I find the former far too difficult to interpret in a practical way, and often contradictory too. On War, despite being 200 years old, feels of direct practical value, and I have used it to help direct strategic work within my business. For example, Sun Tzu says "don't press a defeated enemy too hard", whereas Clausewitz says "press home your advantage", which seems like a more aligned with Playing to Win.
I don't know about top ten, but my top two are On War, and of course Playing to Win!
Ben: As I indicated, I was angst-ridden about that decision. I probably should have done 11 and put two military strategy books on the list. Von Clausewitz is such a great thinker. If he was a 21st century guy, he would be a business strategy genius. Let's consider it a top 11. Best, Roger
Every book here seems to sharpen a different mental model. That's what makes a strategist: not more information, but better judgment.
As an economist by training, seeing Herbert Simon on here is incredibly validating. Mainstream economics often gets trapped in hyper-formalized game theory, treating strategy like a math problem to be optimized.
Seeing strategy as a design proces also resonates. One of the key elements of our Built to Deliver methodology rereplaces traditional strategic planning with a "Design Studio" process that relies on co-construction rather than top-down analysis, with the understanding that great strategy isn't about uncovering a static truth, it's about the iterative craft of human system design.
Excellent list!
You might have missed Richard Rumelt
See above. Not close.
Thank you Roger! Is “strategy beyond the hockey stick” an example of the fallacy of data driven “what we must do”? I find it unique in that it tells us how to know whether our bets are big enough, akin to don’t play to play. Maybe I misapplied it, but do you recommend the book?
A left field suggestion - Wolf Hall. More leadership than strategy but Hilary Mantel's character is a compelling example
These are so so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing!
Possibly this might be a more accessible version of the Peirce lectures? https://www.amazon.com/dp/0791432661?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Thanks so much. That is helpful - for one of the most inaccessible thinkers important to strategy. I have just ordered it! Want to see the format and may recommend it going forward.
Wonderful to get a deeper view into the theoretical underpinnings of your work. Thanks Roger!
My pleasure. Glad you liked it. R
What a genuinely refreshing list - and a real eye-opener. Most "must-read for strategists" posts are predictable processions of the same business titles (Blue Ocean Strategy comes to mind), so seeing seven out of ten picks drawn from outside business literature entirely says something important.
It makes perfect sense when you think about it: strategy is ultimately about human choices, which means a great strategist needs to understand how people think and behave long before they start designing competitive moves. And that knowledge lives mostly outside business books.
This is a timely nudge for me personally. I've had a glimpse of this thinking - I referenced The Art of War in one of my recent articles - but your list is a reminder to look much more deliberately beyond the usual box. Thank you for curating something with real intellectual courage behind it.
Alex: Glad you liked it and I totally resonate with thoughts on it. If you can't understand how humans make choices, good luck to you in strategy. Best, R
On War definitely belongs here, as does Playing to Win. Though I’ve not read all your recs to know which I’d remove…
Let's make it a list of 11 and On War makes it. Of the zillion books out there, being 11 ain't bad!
Some still in my to read list. I will also take the liberty in suggesting not only Deming, but another two of my favourites that I invite you to consider as well, Eli Goldratt and Nicholas Taleb. The first developed a framework of cause-effect hierarchies that could build up any strategic construct, and the later mainly deals with risk management fundamentals.
I spoke about Deming above - love and respect him and give my reasons above. I have discussed The Goal in PTW/PI (https://rogerlmartin.substack.com/p/2024-04-22_the-goal-playing-to-win-aed81a30a121html) and don't consider it even close. I love Taleb's work too. But if I had one risk book on the list, it would be this one: https://www.amazon.com/Against-Gods-Remarkable-Story-Risk/dp/0471295639
Best R
Thank you for putting this list together. A good reminder to read widely and use the scientific method to refine and improve your thinking.
Indeed that is a good takeaway. Best, R
Nice to see a list that doesn't mention the author of the post. :-)
I would add Richard Whittington's Opening Strategy to the list, as it is the best book to understand where strategy itself came from and where it's heading.
Spoiler alert: it's heading in the direction of Open Strategy. I think the title gave it away a bit.
Never heard of it. Will take a look. Best, R