This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans

In an era where AI and technological advances push us to move faster than ever, Seth Godin's "This Is Strategy" arrives with a crucial reminder: It doesn't matter how fast you're going if you're going in the wrong direction. This insight alone makes the book worth reading, but Godin offers so much more. What sets this book apart is its nuanced understanding of systems and change. Rather than pushing the typical "hustle harder" narrative, Godin helps readers see and work with the invisible systems that shape our results. His unconventional structure - numbered sections that facilitate ongoing conversations - reflects the book's core message: strategic thinking requires dialogue and perspective-sharing. The book's strength lies in its approach to change and disruption. Using metaphors like surfing ("A useful skill in surfing is picking the right place and time to go surfing."), Godin shows how to spot and leverage opportunities when systems are disrupted. This is particularly valuable as we navigate the AI revolution - it's not about resisting change but understanding how to make it work for us rather than letting it use us. Particularly valuable for: - Leaders seeking to create meaningful change without burning out - Entrepreneurs navigating technological disruption - Anyone feeling pressured to "move faster" without clear direction - Teams wanting to have better strategic conversations The companion Strategy Deck (54 cards with 5 million possible combinations) adds a practical, interactive dimension to the strategic thinking process. Most importantly, this book encourages us to pause and ask essential questions before accelerating: What change do we seek to make? Who are we serving? Are we pushing against the wrong things? In our AI-driven world, these questions matter more than ever. This isn't just another business strategy book - it's a compass for navigating complexity while staying true to your purpose. Whether you're leading a team, running a business, or seeking to make an impact, "This Is Strategy" helps you ensure you're moving fast in the right direction.

Seth Godin is one of the great authors.

After 40 pages this book has left me with NOTHING. I would stick to other’s Seth’s books such as linchpin and purple cow.

I'm a big Seth Godin fan. He's a genius. And if your mind's a system (it is) his thoughts in this book will help optimise it. There is immense value in his writing to anyone who cares enough to let it soak in. But, to the casual reader of 'This is Strategy', it might appear to be an unfocused meander through various ideas that include what appear to be some blog posts of his. But so what? We all start from different places, and can all see things each other can't, and could do with seeing things others might already see. But as you read, the picture begins to reveal itself. So long as you're not looking for instructions, or to be told your plan or strategy (or given the 'map'). I think some people come to books like this expecting to buy the answers to their problems for £15. But what you're buying is a new mindset, and useful questions that can hum in the background as you go about your life. That's what you're buying, and ultimately, it's all probabilistic. It increases your chances that you'll notice new things, and gradually find some 'answers' in time - enough to move forwards where you'll find some more. Hard to quantify the value then because it'll come in time. Which is why I say let it percolate. My first pass through the book didn't do a lot for me (but I know the process - your first interpretation doesn't usually appreciate the deep wisdom, it takes time and reflection to arrive at that) but I knew what tool the book is and for what job. Then, over the days and nights, I've started grabbing pen and paper and scribbling away like crazy. Because it's doing the job in the way it should. I hope this helps someone approach the book in a way that makes it work for them.

The books are written in a form most of readers are unfamiliar with. But whoever reads book from a Zen master will find this writing style offer you a great way of self discovering And from a bookaholic standpoint (way before booktok exist) i am very sure Seth Godin applied the Zen method to write this book. In other words, each bullet point you read is a deep reflection of a real life situation or business scennerio. From there, you can choose to deep dive into the wisdom and find the correlation in your own situation or problem to find the solution on your own. I myself have read too many book on strategy, and have tried to apply it in many rolea i have had or industriea i work for, i can verify at certain level which one is nice on paper and which one is practical. Those who come across sytematic problem, and you only encounter this once you reach top level of your company, would find this book incredibly resonate, and down to earth. All in all, highly recommended. The book itself is a "cat" in a middle of dog fight.