A New Way To Think by Roger L. Martin Summary
Overview of A New Way To Think
In "A New Way to Think," Roger Martin challenges outdated management models that no longer work. Named a Forbes must-read, this HBR collection reveals why imagination trumps data analytics - a revelation that's reshaping how industry leaders approach strategy, culture, and innovation.
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Key takeaways
When Mental Models Matter More Than Effort
Think about the last time you tried solving a problem by working harder at the same solution, only to get the same disappointing result. You're not alone. For forty years, one pattern has repeated itself in boardrooms worldwide: when strategies fail, executives don't question their approach-they just push harder. It's like trying to open a door by pulling when it clearly says "push," except the door is a multi-million-dollar business decision. This stubborn loyalty to broken frameworks isn't just inefficient-it's expensive. What if the problem isn't execution but the mental models themselves? We love the narrative of corporate titans clashing-Apple versus Samsung, Coke versus Pepsi-like nations at war. But customers don't experience competition this way. When you're standing in a store aisle, you're not choosing between corporations. You're choosing between this laptop and that one, this soda and that one. The competition isn't happening in boardrooms; it's happening at the shelf, the checkout counter, the moment of decision. This shift in perspective changes everything. If competition occurs at the front line, then the people closest to customers-not the executives furthest away-have the most valuable insights. Yet traditional hierarchies assume wisdom flows downward from the top. The irony? Those making the biggest decisions often have the least direct contact with the actual battlefield. A poor product won't be rescued by being part of a prestigious company. Mac users might love Microsoft Office, but that doesn't make them switch to Windows. The real question becomes: does your organizational structure add value or just add layers?
The Shareholder Myth and the Power of Long-Term Thinking
Why Familiarity Beats Perfection and How to Build Cumulative Advantage
From Analysis Paralysis to Possibility-Driven Strategy
Culture, Functions, and the Project Revolution in Knowledge Work
Reclaiming Choice and Designing Interventions That Stick
The Revolution Waiting in Your Assumptions
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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