// Book comparison
The Hard Thing About Hard Things vs The Body Keeps the Score
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
★ 4.9/5
The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Hard Thing About Hard Things | The Body Keeps the Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 304 | 464 |
| Reading time | ~7.6 h | ~11.6 h |
| Published | 2014 | 2014 |
| Author | Ben Horowitz | Bessel van der Kolk |
| Category | Startups & Entrepreneurship | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | HarperBusiness | Viking |
Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…
- → You're interested in startups & entrepreneurship.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You prefer a shorter read (~7.6 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2014).
Choose The Body Keeps the Score if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
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.
Key takeaways — The Body Keeps the Score
- ✓ Acknowledge the Physiological Basis of Behavior, recognizing that your team's reactions to stress are often driven by deep-seated biological patterns rather than just professional logic.
- ✓ Prioritize Psychological and Somatic Safety within your organization, as the human brain cannot engage in high-level strategic thinking when the body is in a state of perceived threat.
- ✓ Implement Self-Regulation Techniques as a core leadership skill, utilizing mindfulness and body-awareness to maintain executive presence and clarity during high-stakes organizational crises.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. If you specifically need personal effectiveness, The Body Keeps the Score is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Hard Thing About Hard Things or The Body Keeps the Score better? +
The Hard Thing About Hard Things has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on startups & entrepreneurship, while The Body Keeps the Score focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Hard Thing About Hard Things or The Body Keeps the Score? +
The Hard Thing About Hard Things is shorter (304 pages, ~7.6 hours) compared to The Body Keeps the Score (464 pages, ~11.6 hours).
Should I read The Hard Thing About Hard Things or The Body Keeps the Score first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.