// Book comparison
Dare to Lead vs The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Dare to Lead by Brené Brown and The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz.
Dare to Lead
by Brené Brown
★ 4.9/5
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Dare to Lead | The Hard Thing About Hard Things | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 320 | 304 |
| Reading time | ~8.0 h | ~7.6 h |
| Published | 2018 | 2014 |
| Author | Brené Brown | Ben Horowitz |
| Category | Leadership | Startups & Entrepreneurship |
| Publisher | Random House | HarperBusiness |
Choose Dare to Lead if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2018).
Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…
- → You're interested in startups & entrepreneurship.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~7.6 hours).
Key takeaways — Dare to Lead
- ✓ Practice Rumbling with Vulnerability by leaning into difficult strategic conversations and productive conflict, which is the primary driver of high-performance team innovation.
- ✓ Utilize the BRAVING Inventory to objectively build and measure trust within your leadership team, ensuring that your organization is grounded in a foundation of mutual accountability.
- ✓ Foster a Daring Culture by adopting the 'Clear is Kind' philosophy, providing honest and specific feedback that supports employee growth and organizational excellence.
Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things
- ✓ Understand the difference between Peacetime and Wartime Leadership, recognizing that a crisis requires a shift from collaborative consensus to directive, high-velocity decision-making.
- ✓ Manage Your Own Psychology during 'The Struggle', recognizing that the ability to stay calm and objective when the organization is at risk is a leader's most critical strategic asset.
- ✓ Prioritize The Truth in your organizational communication, ensuring that bad news travels fast and that every employee understands the reality of the firm's strategic challenges.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with Dare to Lead. If you specifically need startups & entrepreneurship, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Dare to Lead or The Hard Thing About Hard Things better? +
Dare to Lead has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. Dare to Lead focuses on leadership, while The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on startups & entrepreneurship. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Dare to Lead or The Hard Thing About Hard Things? +
The Hard Thing About Hard Things is shorter (304 pages, ~7.6 hours) compared to Dare to Lead (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).
Should I read Dare to Lead or The Hard Thing About Hard Things first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with Dare to Lead. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.