Try free for 30 days

  • Black Box Thinking

  • The Surprising Truth About Success
  • By: Matthew Syed
  • Narrated by: Simon Slater
  • Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (210 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Black Box Thinking cover art

Black Box Thinking

By: Matthew Syed
Narrated by: Simon Slater
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Columnist for The Times and best-selling author of Bounce: The myth of talent and the power of practice Matthew Syed argues that the key to success is a positive attitude to failure. 

What links the Mercedes Formula One team with Google? What links Dave Braisford's Team Sky and the aviation industry? What is the connection between the inventor James Dyson and the footballer David Beckham? They are all Black Box Thinkers. 

Whether developing a new product, honing a core skill or just trying to get a critical decision right, Black Box Thinkers aren't afraid to face up to mistakes. In fact they see failure as the very best way to learn. Rather than denying their mistakes, blaming others or attempting to spin their way out of trouble, these institutions and individuals interrogate errors as part of their future strategy for success. 

How many of us, hand on heart, can say that we have such a healthy relationship with failure? Learning from failure has the status of a cliché, but this book reveals the astonishing story behind the most powerful method of learning known to mankind and reveals the arsenal of techniques wielded by some of the world's most innovative organizations. 

Their lessons can be applied across every field - from sport to education, from business to health. Using gripping case studies, exclusive interviews and really practical takeaways, Matthew Syed - the award-winning journalist and best-selling author of Bounce - explains how to turn failure into success and shows us how we can all become better Black Box Thinkers. 

©2015 Matthew Syed (P)2015 Hodder & Stoughton

What listeners say about Black Box Thinking

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    172
  • 4 Stars
    28
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    134
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    137
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

a practical and insightful book about learning from mistakes.

a fantastic read, especially if you work in health care

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great read

Both my husband and I really enjoyed this book and intend to listen to it again. Just so much to learn and grow in

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Already applying what I’ve learned.

I work in Governance for a large health organisation. Continual improvement is a large part of my portfolio. This book has really got me thinking about leading different attitudes around mistakes and failures, development of new methodologies around benchmark metrics and ensuring successful change management projects. I’m excited to learn more and implement some ideas stemming from this book. Definitely worth the read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

thoroughly enjoyable

A thought provoking journey through failure... enjoyable and and a easy listen... well worth the time

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional and thought provoking.

One of the most thought provoking books you will ever read. Unparalleled examples of how safety and quality can be improved across all sectors, especially health care, if we adopt a ‘no-blame’ culture and acknowledge our mistakes. A must-read book for front line health professionals and executives. Lawyers would also benefit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting and thought provoking

I would love to see everyone read this and see if we could create a culture of learning and improving and make and world a better place

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AMAZING!

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I was sceptical at first. But from the first chapter I mess hooked! The topics explored offered real food for thought and the whole book was very thought provoking. I would even go as far to say that every medical professional should read this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Standard pop psych affair

Pretty stock standard formulaic book. The experiments are the same as in every similar book. Get the checklist manifesto instead.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just fabulous

This book is a must read for everyone!
Excellent narration!
Will listen to it again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Worth listening to

Loved the concepts although some stories were a bit too drawn out and I personally didn't like the ones related to criminal activity. Otherwise good read to make you think about learning from mistakes and not burying them

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.