// Book comparison
The Body Keeps the Score vs Think Again
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk and Think Again by Adam Grant.
The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
★ 4.9/5
Think Again
by Adam Grant
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Body Keeps the Score | Think Again | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 464 | 320 |
| Reading time | ~11.6 h | ~8.0 h |
| Published | 2014 | 2021 |
| Author | Bessel van der Kolk | Adam Grant |
| Category | Personal Effectiveness | Leadership |
| Publisher | Viking | Viking |
Choose The Body Keeps the Score if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose Think Again if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~8.0 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2021).
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.
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, more acclaimed read, start with The Body Keeps the Score. If you specifically need leadership, Think Again is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Body Keeps the Score or Think Again better? +
The Body Keeps the Score has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Body Keeps the Score focuses on personal effectiveness, while Think Again focuses on leadership. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Body Keeps the Score or Think Again? +
Think Again is shorter (320 pages, ~8.0 hours) compared to The Body Keeps the Score (464 pages, ~11.6 hours).
Should I read The Body Keeps the Score or Think Again first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Body Keeps the Score. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.