// Book comparison

The Hard Thing About Hard Things vs The Body Keeps the Score

Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.

At a glance

The Hard Thing About Hard Things The Body Keeps the Score
Rating ★ 4.9/5 ★ 4.9/5
Pages 304 464
Reading time ~7.6 h ~11.6 h
Published 2014 2014
Author Ben Horowitz Bessel van der Kolk
Category Startups & Entrepreneurship Personal Effectiveness
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).
  • You want the more recent perspective (2014).

Choose The Body Keeps the Score if…

  • You're interested in personal effectiveness.

Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things

  • Unawain ang pagkakaiba ng Pangulo sa Panahon ng Kapayapaan at Digmaan, na nagpapakita na ang isang krisis ay nangangailangan ng pagbabago mula sa kolaboratibong pagkakasundo tungo sa direktiba at mabilis na paggawa ng desisyon.
  • Pangasiwaan ang Iyong Sariling Pag-iisip habang nasa 'Pakikibaka', na kinikilala na ang kakayahang manatiling kalmado at obhetibo kapag nanganganib ang organisasyon ay isang kritikal na yaman ng isang lider.
  • Bigyang-priyoridad ang Katotohanan sa komunikasyon ng organisasyon, na tinitiyak na ang masasamang balita ay mabilis na nakararating at nauunawaan ng bawat empleyado ang katotohanan sa mga hamon ng estratehiya ng kumpanya.
Read full The Hard Thing About Hard Things summary →

Key takeaways — The Body Keeps the Score

  • Kilalanin ang Physiological Basis of Behavior, na nagpapakita na ang mga reaksyon ng iyong koponan sa stress ay madalas na resulta ng malalim na nakabaong mga biological na pattern sa halip na puro propesyonal na lohika.
  • Bigyang-diin ang Psychological and Somatic Safety sa inyong organisasyon, dahil hindi makakagawa ang utak ng tao ng mataas na antas ng estratehikong pag-iisip kapag ang katawan ay nasa estado ng perceived threat.
  • Isakatuparan ang Self-Regulation Techniques bilang isang pangunahing kasanayan sa pamumuno, gamit ang mindfulness at body-awareness upang mapanatili ang iyong executive presence at kalinawan sa panahon ng mahahalagang organisasyonal na krisis.
Read full The Body Keeps the Score summary →

The verdict

If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. 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 Hard Thing About Hard Things or The Body Keeps the Score 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 The Body Keeps the Score focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.

Which is shorter, The Hard Thing About Hard Things or The Body Keeps the Score? +

The Hard Thing About Hard Things is shorter (304 pages, ~7.6 hours) compared to The Body Keeps the Score (464 pages, ~11.6 hours).

Should I read The Hard Thing About Hard Things or The Body Keeps the Score 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.