// Book comparison
The Big Short vs The War of Art
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Big Short by Michael Lewis and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
The Big Short
by Michael Lewis
★ 4.9/5
The War of Art
by Steven Pressfield
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Big Short | The War of Art | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 288 | 192 |
| Reading time | ~7.2 h | ~4.8 h |
| Published | 2010 | 2002 |
| Author | Michael Lewis | Steven Pressfield |
| Category | Finance & Investment | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company | Black Irish Entertainment |
Choose The Big Short if…
- → You're interested in finance & investment.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2010).
Choose The War of Art if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~4.8 hours).
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 War of Art
- ✓ Identify Resistance in your organization by recognizing the symptoms of procrastination and bureaucratic drama that often signal a team's fear of a transformative project.
- ✓ Transition from an Amateur to a Professional Mindset by requiring consistent, daily effort on core strategic goals, regardless of the fluctuating levels of individual inspiration.
- ✓ Maintain Territorial Focus by ensuring that your team members own and defend their specific areas of high-level expertise, protecting them from the 'Resistance' of mission creep.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Big Short. If you specifically need personal effectiveness, The War of Art is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Big Short or The War of Art 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 War of Art focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Big Short or The War of Art? +
The War of Art is shorter (192 pages, ~4.8 hours) compared to The Big Short (288 pages, ~7.2 hours).
Should I read The Big Short or The War of Art 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.