// Book comparison
The Big Short vs The Body Keeps the Score
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Big Short by Michael Lewis and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.
The Big Short
by Michael Lewis
★ 4.9/5
The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Big Short | The Body Keeps the Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 288 | 464 |
| Reading time | ~7.2 h | ~11.6 h |
| Published | 2010 | 2014 |
| Author | Michael Lewis | Bessel van der Kolk |
| Category | Finance & Investment | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company | Viking |
Choose The Big Short if…
- → You're interested in finance & investment.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You prefer a shorter read (~7.2 hours).
Choose The Body Keeps the Score if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the more recent perspective (2014).
Key takeaways — The Big Short
- ✓ Prioritize First-Hand Data Investigation, ensuring your organization’s biggest strategic bets are based on the reality of the 'Underlying Assets' rather than on the opinions of rating agencies or experts.
- ✓ Cultivate Contrarian Bravery, recognizing that the most significant strategic opportunities often require you to stand alone and bet against the 'Collective Blindness' of the market.
- ✓ Understand The Danger of Complexity as Obfuscation, recognizing that when a financial product or business model is too complex to be easily explained, it often hides systemic fragility and loss.
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 Big Short. 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 Big Short or The Body Keeps the Score better? +
The Big Short has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Big Short focuses on finance & investment, while The Body Keeps the Score focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Big Short or The Body Keeps the Score? +
The Big Short is shorter (288 pages, ~7.2 hours) compared to The Body Keeps the Score (464 pages, ~11.6 hours).
Should I read The Big Short or The Body Keeps the Score first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Big Short. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.