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Black Box Thinking
- The Surprising Truth About Success
- Narrated by: Simon Slater
- Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Business & Careers, Management & Leadership
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Publisher's Summary
Columnist for The Times and best-selling author of Bounce: The myth of talent and the power of practice Matthew Syed argues that the key to success is a positive attitude to failure.
What links the Mercedes Formula One team with Google? What links Dave Braisford's Team Sky and the aviation industry? What is the connection between the inventor James Dyson and the footballer David Beckham? They are all Black Box Thinkers.
Whether developing a new product, honing a core skill or just trying to get a critical decision right, Black Box Thinkers aren't afraid to face up to mistakes. In fact, they see failure as the very best way to learn. Rather than denying their mistakes, blaming others or attempting to spin their way out of trouble, these institutions and individuals interrogate errors as part of their future strategy for success.
How many of us, hand on heart, can say that we have such a healthy relationship with failure? Learning from failure has the status of a cliché, but this book reveals the astonishing story behind the most powerful method of learning known to mankind, and reveals the arsenal of techniques wielded by some of the world's most innovative organizations.
Their lessons can be applied across every field - from sport to education, from business to health. Using gripping case studies, exclusive interviews and really practical takeaways, Matthew Syed - the award-winning journalist and best-selling author of Bounce - explains how to turn failure into success, and shows us how we can all become better Black Box Thinkers.
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What listeners say about Black Box Thinking
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- ardyn
- 01-13-16
Great book, so-so audio performance
I absolutely loved the book. It's interesting, applicable, and very well written. The only downside was that the narrator was breathy and made so many mouth noises. It was incredibly distracting.
5 people found this helpful
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- Michael
- 03-25-18
Learning from mistakes. A must read for Everyone!!
This is a must read for everyone.. Except a small randomised control group 😂
Seriously, this is the best book about learning from failures.
it starts off talking about how the Aviation industry is based around learning from their failures, from crashes and near misses. Hence they have the Black Box for recording what happened in the lead up to a crash. But the culture of the Healthcare system is almost the exact opposite, they try not to investigate problems and learn from mistakes and deaths. Instead being worried about blame being attributed.
This book explains and extols the virtues of applying the scientific method to social concerns.
All geisters, social entrepreneurs, organisers, managers, staff, students, parents and you should read this and ensure that you create and utilise feedback loops in your organisations and life.
2 people found this helpful
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- Steve
- 05-09-19
Everyone should be taught Black Box Thinking
This has changed my thinking towards tackling any situation or problem. Students of all ages will benefit from studying this material.
Leaders should strive to develop organisational culture with this principle as one of the foundational layers.
1 person found this helpful
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- Valentin
- 06-20-21
Impressive research with Amazon storytelling
Impressive research with Amazon storytelling
I loved the way all the insights were accompanied with suspenseful stories and that the book provided evidence-based about how to analyze and move on in your own life / business life.
A must read for anyone that believes critical thinking is a must-have tool in one's life.
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- tomasvita
- 01-16-21
Repetitive and redundant
At least 6hs of the book could be cut. It only one concept with 10000000000 examples repeating that concept.
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- Anonymous User
- 01-06-21
Very inspirational
This book really made me change the way I look at failure and made me feel more comfortable with it. Many of the concepts may be somewhat knows if you’ve studied business or so, but it’s brought in a very compelling way.
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- Mervin Pearce
- 09-20-20
Apt and to the point.
Resonates fully in what we experience in life, work, and relationships. A very good read.
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-07-20
Worth reading
The book starts in an intriguing way and then develops a bit slowly, initially leaving you wonder where it will go. It then goes on to explain key human thought processes and behaviours (mainly around failure and how to learn from it) with quick introductions to theory and many practical examples, use cases. Worth reading.
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- Louis Shaffer
- 06-29-20
Should be taught in all graduate studies
This is the kind of book all organizations could benefit from. It should be taught as a course for any advanced degree, and many undergraduate professional studies.
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- Anonymous User
- 10-20-19
implementation
How to implement such cultural change and sharing system in large corporations in practice?
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- Louise
- 08-28-16
Must listen
I'm a careers adviser in a school in the UK looking for ways to improve my practice. Having heard the quote from this book that a psychotherapist with years of experience gets no better results than one who is newly trained, I was intrigued as I wondered if it may be the same for my profession. I got answers to this conundrum and much more besides. This is a book for anyone who wants to improve or help others to improve. It sits well alongside the likes of Gladwell, Seligman and Csikzentmahayli on issues such as the value or practice, the growth mindset and learning from mistakes. I will try to be much more careful in the future before apportioning blame on myself and others. The narrator is excellent too.
13 people found this helpful
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- Kenny Marshall
- 10-09-16
Great book about learning from mistakes
Lots of critical life and death real life examples. It's a very enjoyable listen and challenged my thought processes. However, I was expecting some more ideas on what approaches can be used to encourage people to learn from mistakes and how to move current thinking forward.
9 people found this helpful
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- Callum
- 12-01-15
Insightful, entertaining and informative
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Absolutely. It's well written, captivating, full of insight and is very persuasive. Writer clearly is passionate about his theories. Well worth reading. Thought provoking.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Not applicable
What about Simon Slater’s performance did you like?
Narrated with the right amount of enthusiasm and without monotone. Get a real sense of interest from him as it piques your own interest too.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Mainly this book made me pensive. However I do find myself using a lot of the knowledge I've gained from it as part of the way I now approach my daily life. It really has changed my outlook on things. I think it's an improvement on bounce which was itself a very interesting read.
Any additional comments?
Well worth reading more than once. Picked up many things second time round that I missed to begin with.
18 people found this helpful
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- Margarita Millere
- 02-01-16
Great book to understand importance of mistakes
Any additional comments?
It's a great book, which helps to understand importance of making mistakes and learning from them.
9 people found this helpful
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- Maximus Decimus Meridius
- 09-24-15
Simple, informative and bursting with ‘scribble th
Would you listen to Black Box Thinking again? Why?
Yes, it is one of those books you'll come back to, to remind yourself of things.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Not applicable, seriously audible, this generic form does not work. Listen to the Black Box Thinking book and then TAKE ACTION!
Have you listened to any of Simon Slater’s other performances? How does this one compare?
I've not, yet, I have just bought one though.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
None of the above, don't be silly.
Any additional comments?
Stay strong during the first 9 minutes of chapter one, do, as I was, be tempted to stop listening and go back to your Archers podcast. As the campaigns says It Gets Better.
I am just starting chapter four and already this book has been worth the money / credit. Even if the rest of the book turned out to be Winnie the Pooh singing along to ABBA this book would have been worth it. Three chapters in and I’ve got a page of notes for both my professional and my personal life.
I can happily recommend this book, it’s one that I can see myself listening to repeatedly over the coming months / years. (Less than a week after buying Black Box Thinking, I’ve logged on to Audible to buy his other book Bounce.)
38 people found this helpful
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- Greysnowogre
- 10-16-17
Unnecessarily graphic
I shouldn't have to hear of the graphic details of child rape cases in order to learn about success in business. The book should come with a warning. The distressing detail I've heard far undermines the value of the rest of the content on the book. Consequently, I didn't finish it.
22 people found this helpful
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- Genc Tasbasi
- 10-03-16
So repetitive
What disappointed you about Black Box Thinking?
This book is really repetitive. It keeps talking about the same thing. It says something, then you hear about it again in next 10 mins. It repeats things. Repetitive book. Same thing. Oh my I think you get it now.
7 people found this helpful
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- D. Faulkner
- 10-07-15
Truly brilliant. Should be mandatory reading
Thoughtful, insightful, compelling and incredibly important, this is a real page turner of a book which kept me glued to my headphones for hours on end. If I were King of the World I would make this mandatory reading in all schools and social institutes, not just because it's a great read but because the information within should shape our future.
11 people found this helpful
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- Guy
- 02-02-16
Really, really interedting
Really interesting concepts discussed and brought to life with real case studies. The first chapter wasn't a pleasant read, but that was just because of the nature of the story being told.
Before I had finished this book I has already ordered the author's other book, Bounce.
6 people found this helpful
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- Finnur
- 02-23-16
very interesting and mind changing
I loved this book and the ideology it brings forth in a very clear, simple and fast flowing way. I was hesitating before I began because of some reviews stating a slow and difficult first three chapters. I did not experiance the book like that, I got suck into the story right away. I have already changed few things in my personal way of looking at things and how to respond to "failures" both my own and those of my loved ones. It will be harder to implement at my office but I will strive to do just that though.
I do also expect to listen to the whole book again this year to freshen myself up on the whole message it brings.
8 people found this helpful
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- Chris Brady
- 03-15-17
Brilliant
a practical and insightful book about learning from mistakes.
a fantastic read, especially if you work in health care
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 03-13-18
great read
Both my husband and I really enjoyed this book and intend to listen to it again. Just so much to learn and grow in
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 02-20-22
Just fabulous
This book is a must read for everyone!
Excellent narration!
Will listen to it again.
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- Michelle W.
- 06-24-21
Worth listening to
Loved the concepts although some stories were a bit too drawn out and I personally didn't like the ones related to criminal activity. Otherwise good read to make you think about learning from mistakes and not burying them
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-02-21
Second time listened to the entire book and love it even more!
Exceptional. Can be applied to your own life. It learned me re-think the current status quo in healthcare but also business and life in general. You just have to read and will value it A LOT!
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- Steve
- 04-20-21
Must listen.
An amazing book. Full of surprises. Really is a must listen and you will walk away feeling smarter for having read it.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-01-21
Amazing book
One of the best books I’ve read with many great insights. Also exciting to read
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- Sean
- 10-17-20
Anyone who makes decisions should know about Black Box thinking
This book has changed my approach to almost everything I do. The ideas, or rather, evidence presented is so compelling that it will make you look at how you make decisions and why. You will question the media and the noise of social media so that you can see through it.
Please open your mind to Black Box thinking.
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- Col Trengove
- 03-29-20
A brilliant read
I was captivated by this book - very well researched, quite revealing about the human psyche and the chapters are interwoven in an entertaining style. It drove me to document brief notes along the way regarding the unique terminology used and invaluable quotes. Like all books it has its slow patches but overall full marks to Matthew Syed.
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- Anonymous User
- 09-24-19
Mind blowing and potentially life changing.
This book should be made compulsory reading for all medical, legal, legal and law enforcement professionals, and local and State Government managers etc.
The narrator had me so engaged that I often sat on my driveway, just listening to the last few minutes of a chapter.
The contents of this book are ood for thought; let's hope more digest it.