// Book comparison

The Big Short vs Think Again

Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Big Short by Michael Lewis and Think Again by Adam Grant.

At a glance

The Big Short Think Again
Rating ★ 4.9/5 ★ 4.9/5
Pages 288 320
Reading time ~7.2 h ~8.0 h
Published 2010 2021
Author Michael Lewis Adam Grant
Category Finance & Investment Leadership
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 Think Again if…

  • You're interested in leadership.
  • You want the more recent perspective (2021).

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.
Read full The Big Short summary →

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.
Read full Think Again summary →

The verdict

If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with The Big Short. If you specifically need leadership, Think Again is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.

❓ FAQ

Is The Big Short or Think Again 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 Think Again focuses on leadership. See the verdict below.

Which is shorter, The Big Short or Think Again? +

The Big Short is shorter (288 pages, ~7.2 hours) compared to Think Again (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).

Should I read The Big Short or Think Again 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.