// Book comparison
The Hard Thing About Hard Things vs Think Again
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz and Think Again by Adam Grant.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
★ 4.9/5
Think Again
by Adam Grant
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Hard Thing About Hard Things | Think Again | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 304 | 320 |
| Reading time | ~7.6 h | ~8.0 h |
| Published | 2014 | 2021 |
| Author | Ben Horowitz | Adam Grant |
| Category | Startups & Entrepreneurship | Leadership |
| 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).
Choose Think Again if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You want the more recent perspective (2021).
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 — Think Again
- ✓ Adopt a Scientist Mindset by treating your business strategies as hypotheses that require constant testing and validation against new market data and feedback.
- ✓ Cultivate Confident Humility, acknowledging the limits of your knowledge to remain open to better ideas and more accurate strategic insights from your workforce.
- ✓ Foster a Rethinking Culture within your team by rewarding the 'courage to be wrong' and encouraging the regular questioning of established organizational best practices.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. If you specifically need leadership, Think Again is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Think Again 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 Think Again focuses on leadership. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Think Again? +
The Hard Thing About Hard Things is shorter (304 pages, ~7.6 hours) compared to Think Again (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).
Should I read The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Think Again 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.