Book Review: The Strategy Book

The Strategy Book: How to think and act strategically to deliver outstanding results
Max Mckeown
FT Publishing

We’ve all had times when we failed to think strategically and the result was an embarrassing stumble or major crash. Or when we thought we had the ideal strategy, but the outcome proved us wrong.

Some people are born strategic thinkers. Others have to work to develop their strategic skills. But for everyone, being a strategic thinker and developing and implementing strategies for effective results requires creativity, adaptation, and continual effort.

In The Strategy Book: How to think and act strategically to deliver outstanding results, Max Mckeown writes:

Strategy is about moving from where you are to where you want to be. Smart strategy is the shortest route to desirable ends with available means.

And then he goes on to explain how you can develop into a smart strategist who creates brilliant strategies that actually work.

Strategy is about more than just winning or getting what you want, it’s about shaping the future for yourself and your organization. Mckeown says it’s about vision first and planning second. Give yourself time to think about what you want before you start planning how to achieve it.

Another key point Mckeown makes is that for strategy to be useful, it must work in the real world. He writes, “Strategy is not a solo sport. Strategy and culture should eat breakfast together.” Not eat each other for breakfast, but dine together to achieve success.

The Strategy Book is well-organized with each action topic following a structure that quickly becomes familiar and is easy to navigate. He includes an abundance of stories of successful strategists. You’ll recognize most, if not all, of the companies and people, and be able to personally relate to how strategy worked for them.

Mckeown’s style is engaging, and reading this book feels like having a casual conversation from which you come away empowered and ready to take action—strategic action that will deliver the results you want.