Ries, Eric (2011). The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

What is it about?

In the book, the author describes an agile approach to managing (and thinking about) new business ventures, i.e. start-ups. At the heart of the approach is learning: basically launching a "minimally viable product", exposing it to customers, observing their reactions (i.e. learning), translating those observations into a revised product and so on. (This may be an overly simplified take on the process, though.)

The two main goals of this approach are, consistently with 'lean' approaches in general, speed and elimination of waste. For example, with a "minimally viable product" no possibly unwanted features are developed, hence saving time and avoiding potential unnecessary work.

Was it good?

The book was quite intriguing - the main message is loud and clear, and the several case vignettes illustrate the principles in practice. In this sense, the book was rather compelling. However, throughout the book, I kept thinking whether the principles and practices are universally generalisable (though it is debatable whether this is possible with any principle or practice). For example, it may be that there may be contexts where minimally viable products have to include quite an extensive set of features to make it viable at all. Think of smartphones for example: in contemporary smartphone markets it may be quite infeasible for new entrants such as Oppo some years ago to enter the (consumer9 market with a stripped-down product as a minimally viable product - or alternatively the product concept should be quite radically different from mainstream offerings.

The main take-away for me?

The main take-away for me was the application of the scientific method in this kind of a domain, management of new business ventures. That is, the lean approach is based on formulating plausible hypotheses (what the customers would likely appreciate), conducting controlled experiments (exposing customers to the product hypothesised to be compelling), gathering data (observing customers' behaviour) and drawing conclusions (confirming or revising hypotheses, i.e. learning). In addition, the notion of waste and its many manifestations if a welcome reminder to be applied in various domains of professional - and personal - life.

Who should read the book?

Well, of course the prime audience for the book are entrepreneurs and start-up employees, especially in consumer-oriented software companies where the lean approach probably is most readily applicable. However, as the author suggests, all practicing managers or other management thinkers surely get food for thought from the book.

The book on Amazon.com: The Lean Startup

Dennett, Daniel C. (2015). Intuition Pumps and Other Tools of Thinking

What is it about?

The book is, in a way, about two things. First, Dennett discusses (or, at times, introduces) quite generic 'tools of thinking' such as the familiar Occam's razor, and some litmus tests for detecting shabby arguments such as the 'surely test'. And second, Dennett discusses about some substantive domains of thought such as computers, consciousness and biological evolution.

Was it good?

Characteristically for Dennett, the book is enjoyable to read. Especially the relaxed and, at times, 'in your face' style of expression make the reading experience quite pleasant - and argumentation very accessible. To my taste, the first section - about the generic tools of thinking - remains somewhat disconnected from the rest of the book. Moreover, Dennett is in his element in discussing substantive matters such as consciousness and artificial intelligence, and therefore the book would have been just fine - and perhaps a bit more consistent as well - without the first section. Nonetheless, it is an absolute pleasure to follow argumentation of such a deep and no-nonsense-ish thinker as as Dennett.

The main take-away for me?

It's difficult to single out any particular take-away. Perhaps the main take-away is on a more abstract level. Namely, very clear thinking without the need of overly complex mental and rhetorical constructions can take one quite far (though only so far - the powers of 'mere' philosophy often run out when 'serious' science has still plenty of ammunition left). In particular, works like this makes one appreciate the method of the thought experiment as an often indispensable aid to clear thinking.

Who should read the book?

Well, anyone interested in philosophical (i.e. currently poorly understood) issues or the philosophical method is pretty much guaranteed to enjoy the book even if one would not fully subscribe to all Dennett's views and conclusions. For others, it may be that the subjects covered as well as the way they are covered may appear either overly fuzzy (e.g. the nature and origins of consciousness) or even a bit ridiculous (e.g. making a point with an example in which one is inside a robot having to control it by pressing unlabelled buttons while observing a wall of unlabelled lights as guidance).

Still, I very much would recommend this book - like any by Dennett - for anyone with a philosophical bent.

The book on Amazon.com: Intuition Pumps and Other Tools of Thinking