• Little Bets

  • How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries
  • By: Peter Sims
  • Narrated by: John Allen Nelson
  • Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (353 ratings)

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Little Bets  By  cover art

Little Bets

By: Peter Sims
Narrated by: John Allen Nelson
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Publisher's summary

What do Apple CEO Steve Jobs, comedian Chris Rock, prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, the story developers at Pixar films, and the Army Chief of Strategic Plans all have in common? Best-selling author Peter Sims found that all of them have achieved breakthrough results by methodically taking small, experimental steps in order to discover and develop new ideas.

Rather than believing they have to start with a big idea or plan a whole project out in advance, trying to foresee the final outcome, they make a series of little bets about what might be a good direction, learning from lots of little failures and from small but highly significant wins that allow them to happen upon unexpected avenues and arrive at extraordinary outcomes.

Based on deep and extensive research, including more than 200 interviews with leading innovators, Sims discovered that productive, creative thinkers and doers---from Ludwig van Beethoven to Thomas Edison and Amazon's Jeff Bezos---practice a key set of simple but ingenious experimental methods, such as failing quickly to learn fast, tapping into the genius of play, and engaging in highly immersed observation, that free their minds, opening them up to making unexpected connections and perceiving invaluable insights. These methods also unshackle them from the constraints of overly analytical thinking and linear problem solving that our education places so much emphasis on, as well as from the fear of failure, all of which thwart so many of us in trying to be more innovative.

©2011 Peter Sims (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Diverse and uplifting---a veritable gumball machine of memorable anecdotes to inspire creativity." ( Kirkus)

What listeners say about Little Bets

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Useful approach, not for everyone

The narrator is a little overenthusiastic, but the principles are sound. Peter Sims applies the idea of "little bets" to a wide variety of situations. Prime examples include Pixar, agile software development, and the military's Iraq counterinsurgency program. The basic idea is to make a series of "little bets" on test projects, aiming to "fail fast" and learn from the experience. Your overall direction will emerge organically from these experiments rather than being imposed top-down. The author considers this approach superior to trying to come up with a grand plan from the beginning. I tend to agree with him; in my own experience, which includes playwriting and software development, working this way is more congenial than the conventional way.

It's not for everyone, though. I can easily imagine Shakespeare and Homer approaching writing by making a series of "little bets," but I can't picture Dante pulling off "The Divine Comedy" this way. Still, it's worth a listen.

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8 people found this helpful

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

Heard it all Before

Any additional comments?

This isn't a great audiobook. I am from the technology world, so the iterative/incremental approach that the author advocates here is not new to me. I was hoping for a bit more depth, but there are just a few stories about how you should approach things incrementally. I cannot recommend this book.

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7 people found this helpful

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

Succinctly Summarizes Design Thinking for Business

> Clearly states key design thinking principles.
> Provides clarifying/amplifying examples from innovative and successful companies.
> Refers to other thinkers on design thinking.

Well written and well read.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Just get "The Pumpkin Plan" and save your time

I'm guessing this is a book that the Venture Capitalist turned Stanford MBA author wrote partially as his thesis. It's mostly from a large corporate POV, with military and large corporate history examples. So if you're a white male business excutive over 40, who digs quotes from big business gurus and military anecdotes, go ahead. Read it and feel like you're keeping up.
On the OTHER HAND, if A/B website testing, survey monkey and running a small business isn't all news to you, read "The Pumpkin Plan", get more practical advice than pedantic rambling and be more entertained to boot.

Returning this snore fest. Can't even finish it.

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1 person found this helpful

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

for business people

I love this book it was really great. I would say it is along the lines of some of what you might hear in the Lean Startup. But it has even more focus on the trying things out. I have benefited a lot from it and plan to make this a must-read for my company.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

well paced, good examples of techniqes in action

Pretty quick listen of the key success factors involved getting a win in the marketplace. Solid narration.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Failure to Engage

I bought this book on a friend's recommendation. Except for Chapter 2, I didn't like it. I guess the point the author is trying to make is by setting example after example of success he witnessed throughout his own career.
The book is overly laden with detail that might be interesting to industry insiders, but might go over the heads if those who are not. It doesn't do much to convince this reader why they should care.

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

Best book on Audible!!!

Don’t take my word for it listen to the book and you’ll find out for yourself.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent reminder to avoid mediocrity

Emerson wrote that we most often overlook our own genius because it is our own.

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

Informative, but repetitive

Enjoyed Little Bets... Solid insight, but I repetitive as you get further along in the book. “Chris Rock, Chris Rock, Chris Rock”

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