Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths, and Total Nonsense by Jeffrey Pfeffer & Robert I. Sutton Summary
Overview of Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths, and Total Nonsense
Challenging business dogma, "Hard Facts" exposes management myths that cost companies millions. Clayton Christensen calls it essential reading, while Google's leadership studies confirm its core premise: evidence trumps intuition. What dangerous half-truth is sabotaging your company right now?
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Key takeaways
Breaking the Cycle of Business Mythology
Imagine walking into a corporate boardroom where executives are about to make a multimillion-dollar decision based on what worked for a competitor, what they read in a business magazine, or simply what "feels right." This scenario plays out daily across the business world, and it's precisely what Stanford professors Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton challenge in their groundbreaking work. Their central argument is both simple and revolutionary: most business decisions are based on hope, fear, imitation, or ideology rather than solid evidence. What if medicine were practiced this way? We'd consider it malpractice. Yet in management, this approach is not only tolerated but often celebrated. Consider the contrasting tales of two tech mergers: one spectacularly fails while Cisco successfully acquires dozens of companies without a hitch. The difference isn't luck or genius-it's evidence-based management. By systematically testing assumptions against data, companies like Harrah's transformed from industry followers to leaders. When Gary Loveman became COO, he famously declared three ways to get fired: stealing, harassing women, or implementing programs without experimental testing. This commitment to evidence over intuition helped Harrah's discover that local retirees were more profitable than high-rollers and that $60 in free chips generated more revenue than $125 packages with rooms and meals.
The Knowledge Marketplace Problem
The Talent Myth Reconsidered
The Financial Incentive Fallacy
The Leadership Control Illusion
The Evidence-Based Alternative
From Knowledge to Wisdom
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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"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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