Book Review: The Art Of Being Unreasonable - How Reasonable Can Stall Results

Book Title and Edition: The Art of Being Unreasonable: Lessons in Unconventional Thinking

Author: Eli Broad

Condensed Review/Thesis: Stuck doing what's reasonable? Why not perfect the art of being unreasonable - and achieve greater success?

Author's Background: The only person to found two Fortune 500 companies in different industries, Eli Broad shares the unconventional thinking that helped make him a success.

Intended Audience: Business leaders who are tired of ordinary (reasonable) results.

Larry's Two Cents: George Bernard Shaw wrote, "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends upon the unreasonable man." If you want to achieve the impossible, start by being unreasonable!

As Broad (pronounced like road) explains, reasonable people find excuse after excuse not to act, to maintain the status quo. New ideas can't be done because...no one has ever done them. Unreasonable people, on the other hand, don't believe in the impossible. They're "unreasonable" enough to forge new territory, take risks, and set the bar ever higher for themselves and their organizations. Broad's heavily autobiographical book discusses how he leverages unconventional thinking to achieve great success in business and the world at large.

Think of a goal you have: does it seem impossible? It doesn't have to be a ground-breaking idea or radical innovation. It could be something that seems out of reach for you (e.g. speaking in front of large audiences or learning to skydive). Broad's principles may just help you achieve it. So, should you be "unreasonable"? Read the book and find out.

When To Read This Book: Are you "easy" when comes to holding people accountable. Or, are you consistently firm? In my experience, this is a MAJOR area of challenge for most leaders. Read about Eli Broad and how his "unreasonableness" resulted in great success.