The Strategy Stack: Read These in Order
Strategy is a real skill, not just having opinions in meetings. This stack moves from foundational thinking to applied frameworks, from mindset to method. Whether you're pitching clients or building products, this is the reading that separates strategists from people with job titles.
1
Do Interesting
Start with mindset, not frameworks. Davies proves that the best strategists are the most curious. This small book sets the tone for everything that follows -- be interesting first, strategic second.
2
Essentialism
Before you can strategise, you need to know what to ignore. Essentialism teaches the disciplined pursuit of less -- the foundational skill for anyone who has to prioritise.
3
Poor Charlie's Almanack
Mental models. Munger's toolkit for thinking across disciplines is the single most valuable strategic resource I've encountered. Come for the investing wisdom, stay for the thinking frameworks.
4
How Brands Become Icons
Now apply those mental models to brands. Holt's cultural branding framework is the most powerful strategic tool in advertising. This is where abstract thinking meets applied brand strategy.
5
The Cold Start Problem
Strategy meets growth. Chen's book on network effects and platform dynamics is the modern strategist's guide to how products actually scale. Theory meets traction.
6
Build
End with execution. Fadell turns strategy into shipped products. The perfect closer because it proves that the best strategy in the world means nothing if you can't build it.