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John Kay

Obliquity: Why Our Goals Are Best Achieved Indirectly Paperback – 27 March 2012

by Professor of Industrial Policy John Kay (Author)

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"John Kay tells a fast-paced detective story as he searches for the surprising secret to success...Brilliant."
-Tim Harford, author of The Logic of Life

In this revolutionary book, economist John Kay proves a notion that feels at once paradoxical and deeply commonsensical: the best way to achieve any complex or broadly defined goal, from happiness to preventing forest fires, is the indirect way. We can learn how to achieve our objectives only through a gradual process of risk taking and discovery-what Kay calls obliquity. The author traces this seemingly counterintuitive path to success as it manifests itself in nearly every aspect of life, including business, politics, sports, and more.

Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Books
Publication date

27 March 2012
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

19.05 x 12.7 x 2.29 cm
ISBN-10

0143120557
ISBN-13

978-0143120551
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Product description

About the Author

John Kay is a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and a fellow of St. John's College, Oxford University. As the director, he established the Institute for Fiscal Studies as one of Britain's most respected think tanks.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reprint edition (27 March 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143120557
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143120551
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 19.05 x 12.7 x 2.29 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 188,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1,186 in Strategic Business Planning
- 1,244 in Business Decision-Making & Problem Solving
- 1,297 in Business Systems & Planning (Books)

Customer Reviews:
171 ratings

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Customer reviews

5 star		57%
4 star		22%
3 star		11%
2 star		6%
1 star		3%

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Empathinko

Thought Provoking

Reviewed in Australia on 12 March 2015

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Being a student of complexity, I appreciated John Kay's thought provoking and academic discussion. I think the author strikes a balance between lucidly articulating the oblique approach in this book, as well as acknowledging there are more direct approaches to goal achievement that beome available in contained environments.

The author does us a great service by describing the oblique approach well, and reminding us of many of the flaws of the direct approaches. The book is rather well written, succinct and has great ideas in it to consider.

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Morandi

Anything by John Kayis worth reading and this is his best

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 February 2019

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This is a very fine and elegant book about the limitations of supposedly rational, linear, reductive approaches (to business, markets, investing, architecture, poetry) in situations of complexity, and an argument in favour of sensemaking, reflection, experimentation, and mediation between objectives and possibilities. ‘To fit the world into a single model or narrative fails to acknowledge the universality of uncertainty and complexity.’ Erudite, entertaining, convincing. And beautiful writing.

M-Rev

Am important book for companies and for individuals

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 October 2015

Verified Purchase

Great book. A bit repetitive sometimes but the main points are well worth repeating and are supported by industry examples. The book forces the reader to think as to what is really important for companies and for individuals. This is not a self-help genre book with cheap hard-hitting simplistic advice that no one will follow. Rather, we are in a world, as Kay points out, which is "objectives [are] multidimensional, and in which the evolution of objectives, states and actions [are] mutually supportive" (p. 44). The direct route is simplistic and ignores the complex interactions in the ecosystem of objectives and actions. As such, it is best to go 'obliquely' in pursuit of important goals so the ecosystem is not altered drastically. Btw, 'obliquely' does not 'deviously'.

One person found this helpful

E. Constantino

Easily a classic read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 November 2020

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Really well written! The author makes the subject easily accessible to a wide range of audience. I think it is an essential read for anyone who works in a corporate environment to understand some of the arguments presented in this book behind some of the established business mindsets and how outdated they can be. Also for those who are interested in agile ways of working, this book complements really well.

Fransexluimi

Original and lateral

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2013

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A brief and affordable essay on how one cauld enter the frame of mind of how many apparently do think; and helpful in understanding how not to move temptingly and instinctively with the herd. Remeber how the vast herds of bison in early America were reduced to hundreds or the headlong migration of the Lemmings to oblivion?

For all of us imbued with the daily mountains of conflicting information (often highly partial and at worst misleading) it provides an amusing sideswipe and a jolt to be less emotional and taken in, and indeed be more focussed on what is behind the economic headline. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Take this book up when the next "plebs" episode is twisted into the media and relax with this witty antidote! You will not be dissappointed.

3 people found this helpful

Mr. R. J. Lewis

As described. Delivered promptly

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 July 2018

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As described. Delivered promptly.

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