Holacracy by Brian J. Robertson Summary
Overview of Holacracy
Holacracy dismantles traditional management hierarchies, replacing them with distributed authority and fluid roles. Endorsed by GTD creator David Allen, this revolutionary system made waves when Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh offered employees a stark choice: adopt Holacracy or take severance. 14% walked away. Would you?
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Key takeaways
When Warning Lights Get Ignored-and Nearly Kill You
A cockpit alarm screamed at Brian Robertson, warning him something was wrong. But every other instrument looked fine. His instinct said danger, but the majority of data said otherwise. He ignored the warning-and almost crashed. In that terrifying moment, he grasped a fundamental truth about organizations: we routinely silence critical voices when they don't align with what leadership wants to hear. This insight sparked the creation of Holacracy, an operating system now running hundreds of companies worldwide, from Medium to Zappos. Unlike management fads that slap fresh paint on crumbling foundations, Holacracy tears down the entire structure and rebuilds it from scratch. It's not about better bosses-it's about eliminating the need for traditional bosses altogether. What emerges is something closer to a living city than a corporate machine, where power flows through constitutional rules rather than executive whims.
Why Your Company Runs on Obsolete Software-and What Cities Know That Corporations Don't
The Constitution That Even CEOs Must Obey-and Why Growing Up Terrifies Everyone
Roles, Not Souls - How Separating Work From Identity Transforms Everything
Meetings That Don't Make You Want to Scream-and the Sacred Space of Ruthless Process
Evolution Without a Designer-How Organizations Become Smarter Than Any Single Mind
Living the Revolution-What Actually Changes When Everyone Must Grow Up
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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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