Most business books aren’t knowledge. They’re entertainment.
I got to a point where I automatically go deaf when someone refers me a new “magical” book.
So you have a problem with deadlines and you read about a cool estimating method those guys in XYZ Inc. implemented?
Awesome. Come back once everything works for you.
Because typically, your problem is much deeper than you think. You’ve likely fallen prey to the “Symptom Trap.” It goes like this:
- You focus on the symptoms of your problems (because they are visible).
2. You read different books and blogs on all of them.
3. The solutions are incoherent, but you follow them enthusiastically.
4. You end up in a different set of problems.
5. You Repeat.
You’re walking in circles of vanity, consuming and acting on bulls**t.
Most books on business won’t teach you anything — here’s why
Plethora of business books get published every year. Just look at Amazon’s Business & Money section and you’ll have a lifetime of reading at hand.
The “X Code”, “The X Story”, “Learn X in Y days” are just the among the most innocent BS literature out there.
NEWSFLASH: The “business book business” exists solely for profit.
The obvious goal is to churn out books people will buy thinking “This will solve my problems!”. Then entertain them with stories making them think learning is fun.
A recipe for a typical BS publication can be summed up as follows:
Mix 90% of stories with 10% of a singular, overgeneralized and oversimplified idea. Rephrase everything ad nauseum to fill 200 pages.
Why is that you ask?
- Because it works. Stories are a must in the entertainment business. And it’s entertainment you are getting — just dressed as knowledge.
So how do you break the cycle?
If you want to really obtain knowledge you will be able to rely on, there’s only one way. It’s neither new, nor is it hype-worthy. But it works.
STEP 1: Refresh your knowledge about critical thinking. Focus on argumentation fallacies and test everything you consume against it.
STEP 2: Go invest your time in fundamental books from your field of interest. Every field has 2–3 “Bibles” of time-tested (often dry) fundamental wisdom. It may feel basic at first, but it builds coherent concepts, tools, techniques and terminology you’ll benefit from for a lifetime.
STEP 3: Start critically evaluating everything you do against the fundamental theory. Close the door to the BS.
No shortcuts
Remember — You are not ready for any other material unless the content of your bibles feels totally natural to you.
This is because you must be able to critically evaluate the new information against the general conceptual framework of your field. You have to be able to understand what the new information replaces and how it all plays along with all the other things related. Without it you will keep replacing broken things and breaking other things in the process.
If all you ever do is truly dig deep into 2 Bibles from your field + 2 bibles from related fields — you’ll have more applicable knowledge than anyone who reads 60 lousy business books a year.
However…
There is nothing wrong with reading almost anything unless you mistake reading for learning.
That’s it. I wish someone told me this 10 years ago.
Now go learn something awesome.
