He was the first dean of oxfords said business school and has held chairs at london business school, the university of oxford, and the london school of economics. Im fairly certain that i saw and picked up obliquity on a trip through heathrow. It was inspired by an observation of the successful pharmaceutical researcher, sir james black i used to tell my colleagues that if they wanted to make money, there were many easier ways to do it than drug research. By way of contrast, an author like nassim nicholas taleb weaves other peoples ideas together in an insightful, idiosyncratic and new way. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. To see what he is getting at lets take a look at some examples of.
John kay if you want to go in one direction, the best route may involve going in another. Why our goals are best achieved indirectly by john kay. John kay, the former director of oxfords business school, has an insight. If you want to go in one direction, the best route may involve going in another. Which was a goal, but churchill had no idea how he would reach that goal. The ideas and insights in this book is deep and meaningful.
The great muckraker upton sinclair had expressed a deep insight into the relationship between the world of ideas and the world of practical men. Obliquity available for download and read online in other formats. Nassim n taleb the black swan economics with style as well as substance stephen bayley, architecture and design correspondent observer obliquity is a characteristic john kay production. Apr 14, 2011 this seemingly counterintuitive idea is the subject of john kay s very interesting book obliquity. The best way to achieve any complex or broadly defined goalfrom happiness to. It was inspired by an observation of the successful pharmaceutical researcher, sir james black. John kay tells a fastpaced detective story as he searches for the surprising secret to success. Why our goals are best achieved indirectly book online at best prices in india on. Sep 22, 2014 did you ever notice that to solve most realworld problems of any complexity, we have to find ways to simplify the situation. John kay is a visiting professor at the london school of economics, and a fellow of st john s college, oxford. We are not totally rational in our decisionmaking hence rational approaches do not. This book by the distinguished economist and writer john kay is an extended essay about an idea which is intuitively true.
John kay is a leading economist and visiting professor of economics at. As john kay pointed out, we can only learn about our objectives and how to achieve them through a. Read this book for pleasure, and indirectly obliquely you will gain. He is a director of several public companies and contributes a weekly column to the financial times. He is the author of many books, including the bestselling obliquity.
What are the key takeaways from obliquity book by john. In this revolutionary book, economist john kay proves a notion that feels at once paradoxical and deeply commonsensical. Listen to obliquity why our goals are best achieved indirectly by john kay available from rakuten kobo. If to the hammer everything is a nail, then to the management guru flourishing an insight, everything is a case study. Referring to csikszentmihalyis flow, the author talks about happiness through the pursuit of passion. I think its the first one and its been surprisingly interesting.
Obliquity ebook by john kay 9781101476390 rakuten kobo. If we go back to 1940, prime minister churchill stood up in the uk parliament and said that the united kingdom would be victorious. Apr 06, 2010 leading economist john kay applies his provocative universal theory to a variety of complex systems, including business and communities. Leading economist john kay applies his provocative universal theory to a variety of complex systems, including business and communities.
See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and. Obliquity isbn 9781846682889 pdf epub john kay ebook. Why our goals are best achieved indirectly by john. This bracing manifesto will convince readersor confirm their convictionthat the best route to. The book is a dull collection of other peoples ideas. It packed with many true stories from historical events, politics, businesses and the authors personal experiences. Well, economist john kay noticed, and included a chapter on the subject in his great little book obliquity. I used to tell my colleagues that if they wanted to make money, there were many easier ways to do it than drug research. As john kay pointed out, we can only learn about our objectives and how to achieve them through a gradual process of risk taking and discovery what he calls obliquity.
What are the key takeaways from obliquity book by john kay. Oct 10, 2017 the economist and financial times columnist john kay tells us the best approach is obliquity. Read obliquity why our goals are best achieved indirectly by john kay available from rakuten kobo. About obliquity john kay tells a fastpaced detective story as he searches for the surprising secret to successbrilliant. John kay author john kay is a visiting professor at the london school of economics, and a fellow of st john s college, oxford. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free.
The best way to achieve any complex or broadly defined goalfrom happiness to wealth to. Feb 03, 2011 john kay is an admirable debunker of myths and false beliefs he can see substantial things others dont. I came across this book by accident in a book fair. John anderson kay, cbe, frse, fba, facss born 1948 is a british economist. The economist and financial times columnist john kay tells us the best approach is obliquity. Kay also shows us how to acknowledge our limitations, redefine our goals to fit our skills, open our minds to new data and solutions, and otherwise live life with obliquity. John kay is a visiting professor at the london school of economics, and a fellow of st john \\s college, oxford. To see what he is getting at lets take a look at some examples of important goals best achieved indirectly. Its not an easy read for me because english is not my native language. This acclaimed book by john kay is available at in several formats for your ereader. We can learn how to achieve our objectives only through a gradual process of risk taking and.
His career has spanned academic work and think tanks, business schools, company directorships, consultancies and investment companies. Mar 27, 2012 in this revolutionary book, economist john kay proves a notion that feels at once paradoxical and deeply commonsensical. His latest book, obliquity, was published by profile books in march. John kay is a visiting professor at the london school of economics and a fellow of st john s college, oxford. John kay applies his provocative, universal theory to everything from international business to town planning and from football to managing forest fire. Obliquity audiobook by john kay 9781596598362 rakuten kobo. In obliquity, john kay argues against my naive fiveyear plan. This seemingly counterintuitive idea is the subject of john kay s very interesting book obliquity. This book effectively throws a monkey wrench into the gears of 99% of business selfimprovement management philosophies out there.
This seemingly counterintuitive idea is the subject of john kays very interesting book obliquity. His interests focus on the relationships between economics and business. In this book obliquity john kay points out that actually objectives are a waste of time, what do i mean. It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it. Economics with style as well as substance stephen bayley, architecture and design correspondent, observer. Obliquity, by john kay anyone who knows me would probably be shocked to hear ive been reading a book by an economist. He is a regular columnist for the financial times and the author of numerous books, including the. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. A leading economist charts the indirect road to happiness and wealth. Kay parrots others work, for the most part giving unenlightening corporate.
If you truly study the material, observe it and put it to use in your own life, you will be amazed by the results. A summary of obliquity by john kay summarised by paul. Mar 22, 2018 in obliquity, john kay argues against my naive fiveyear plan. Why our goals are best achieved indirectly john kay isbn. Obliquity is written by john kay, a director of the institute for fiscal studies and business consultant, and asks us to think in a new way. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Book summary of obliquity by john kay vanguard business. Why our goals are best achieved indirectly is a book by economist john kay. The main premise is that in many spheres of life, from business to.
Obliquity why our goals are best achieved indirectly. We incline to see history through the lives of great men. Using dozens of practical examples from the worlds. Buy obliquity book online at low prices in india obliquity. Using dozens of practical examples from the worlds of business, politics, science, sports, literature, even parenting, esteemed economist john kay proves a notion that feels at once paradoxical and deeply commonsensical. All of john s books are available to purchase via this webpage. Strange as it may seem, overcoming geographic obstacles, winning decisive battles or meeting global business targets are the type of goals often best achieved when pursued indirectly.
Why our goals are best achieved indirectly audiobook by john kay. John kay is an admirable debunker of myths and false beliefs he can see substantial things others dont. If you want to go in one direction, the best route may involve going in a. A summary of obliquity by john kay summarised by paul arnold. Trying to approach nebulous targets like profit or happiness directly is a fools path. Why our goals are best achieved indirectly main by kay, john isbn. John kay is a leading economist and visiting professor of economics at the london school of economics, a fellow of st john s college, oxford. This bracing manifesto will convince readersor confirm their convictionthat the best route to satisfaction and success does not run through the bottom line. In obliquity there are no predictable connections between intentions and outcomes. It is a pleasure to read howard davies financial times fascinating richard lambert, directorgeneral of the cbi kay is one of our most dependably perceptive and interesting economic commentators and he wields a deft pen, so the pages of obliquity fly by.
Obliquity by john kay promises and delivers as an obliquely enjoyable ride. Whether overcoming geographical obstacles, winning decisive battles or meeting sales targets, history shows us that oblique approaches are the most successful, especially in. Take small steps and iterate, coursecorrecting along the way. Oblique approaches are most effective in difficult terrain, or where outcomes depend on interactions with other people. All of johns books are available to purchase via this webpage. In obliquity, john kay an economist of some stature explains why the right path is often less obvious and frequently unpredictable in the literal sense of not being able to. As research director and director of the institute for fiscal studies he established it as one of britains most respected think tanks. Goals are often best achieved without intending them. Using a diverse range of examples, from the messenger spacecraft to french architecture, this essay explains why complex goals are best achieved when they are pursued indirectly. It was inspired by an observation of the successful pharmaceutical. Mar 22, 2012 john kay is a leading economist and visiting professor of economics at the london school of economics, a fellow of st john s college, oxford.
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