Why Most Things Fail

From the best selling author of The Death of Economics and Butterfly Economics, a ground-breaking look at a truth all too seldom acknowledged: most commercial and public policy ventures will not succeed.

Paul Ormerod draws upon recent advances in biology to help us understand the surprising consequences of the Iron Law of Failure. And he shows what strategies corporations, businesses and governments will need to adopt to stand a chance of prospering in a world where only one thing is certain.

1. The Edwardian Explosion
2. A Formula for Failure
3. Up a Bit, Then Down a Bit
4. Making Sense of Segregation
5. Playing by the Rules
6. A Game of Chess
7. 'The Best-Laid Schemes …'
8. Doves and Hawks
9. Patterns in the Dark
10. The Powers that Be
11. Take Your Pick?
12. Resolving the Dilemma
13. Why Things Fail
14. What Is to Be Done?

I had high hopes for this book, based on the title and the back-cover, but it is mostly a try to merge the biological science with the business world. Unfortunately, it doesn't come close, as it draws some very long-winding conclusions, that doesn't seem to be backed by the facts of the book. And most importantly, it absolutely doesn't fulfill the promise of its title.

Not really bad, but not very good either…