The Operations Reading List
Our recommended reading list for Operations as at May 2023. Or rather, The List for Reading and Then Taking Action.
Introduction
Operations
Now It Can Be Told: The Story of the Manhattan Project – Leslie R. Groves
High Output Management – Andrew Grove
Working Backwards – Bill Carr and Colin Bryar
Work Rules – Lazlo Block
Personal Operations or Self Productivity
Efficiency
The 4-Hour Work Week – Timothy Ferris
Getting Things Done - David Allen
Deep Work – Cal Newport
Closing Notes
Introduction
We often see various posts or recommendations around reading lists, and we ourselves are often asked for our own referrals.
Today we will provide you an overview of the books or articles that we would recommend for those looking to either learn more about Operations or to improve their current Operations practice.
Our intentions with this list are
To provide resources for your reference
To update it over time
To provide our commentary and thoughts as we read through (the current intent is to split them out in separate notes)
Generally, with some exceptions, these are books that we've read at least once. In some cases we consistently return to them and re-read. We also feel that we have read and perhaps comprehended them to the standard to recommend them.
If you were to reach out to us on Substack Chat or a monthly Q&A or on the Bird App, and asked for a core operations reading list this is, in some form or another, is what we'd generally recommend to you. Here the formatting and spelling is slightly better.
The list is below and we will update over time.
In many cases, at least for us, reading can be problematic and can dissuade you from taking action. Another note discusses these themes in slightly more detail.
As always, if in doubt, take action. And sometimes what is needed to take action or to improve the action that you are taking is the right cue at the right time. Here is a list that contains many cues we have found somewhat useful.
We hope it will help you.
The Reading List
Or, the List for Reading and Then Taking Action
Currently split between Operations and what we’ll gingerly term “Personal Operations” or “Self Productivity”
Operations
Now It Can Be Told: The Story of the Manhattan Project – Leslie R. Groves
Reflections from General Groves, the man responsible for the Manhattan Project. Described as "Maybe the most impressive project management case study of the modern world". We would recommend for anyone managing projects (any kind of project, not necessarily multi-billion dollar war time behemoths aimed at ending a global conflict). The most Lindy on the list so far.
High Output Management – Andrew Grove
The semi-conductor manufacturer Intel pops up again, and again and again and is a favourite of MBA and conventional business school case studies. This book is a lean, stripped down look at how Intel ran and the specific low level management and operations processes that they used. Some of the theoretical models are a bit outdated (in our view; which, is sort of why you’re here arguably?), but the key themes are still relevant. Pair this with How to Get Rich: One of the World's Greatest Entrepreneurs Shares His Secrets - Felix Dennis which is excellent (but at time of writing we can’t quite squeeze it justifiably into either of these two sections. You should still read it however).
Working Backwards – Bill Carr and Colin Bryar
Amazon and how it runs. We're currently underway with reading this one (we haven't finished it yet), but based on our recommendation and some of the things we've heard so far it warrants an inclusion here. The early chapter on Recruitment prima facie seems "Right" (note capital R – it seems fairly close to how we'd recommend it be done but as always, we'll revisit and deep dive to make sure).
Work Rules – Lazlo Block
By Google's former SVP of People Operations. Nice and normie friendly but some useful concepts around empowerment and a refreshing focus on getting the basics (red blood cells) done right. Quite a useful reference on core HR / People operations processes, process design and operations design when a certain semi-aquatic land dwelling mammal did a stint in the HR world.
Personal Operations or Self Productivity (dare we say it)
Efficiency
Part of the original missive of a Composite | Entity of what is now a cartoon Bull who wears a BowTie. For those of you who know (IYKYK; or if you don’t know). The core message of Efficiency isn't personal operations / self productivity per se, but later sections of the roadmap do touch on this.
We're likely to get questions on the theme of "If you could only recommend one".
We wouldn't necessarily recommend Efficiency for this reason as it is aimed broader than mere personal operations, and at a higher purpose however the section “How Do I Stay Focused” is an exceptional place to start (and stop) overhauling your self productivity . Our version has it on page 123.
If you don’t have an OG copy it’s available at the end of this post, (or any other “recent” posts).
The 4-Hour Work Week – Timothy Ferris
Tim Ferris' classic text which is still our touch point for some aspects of process design (resilience and efficiency), onboarding, ramping and training staff and managed outsourcing and offshoring, among many, many other things. Nearly should be in the Operations section. The 4-Hour Chef (We wonder if it would be titled this today?) also rates a very quick mention here but has a different focus.
Getting Things Done - David Allen
A personal operations or organisation system flow and the first entry on this list solely focused on personal productivity. We currently use a variant of this ourselves (result, may, and do vary..) and many concepts and designs are highly applicable and transferable in part.
Deep Work – Cal Newport
Astute readers will recognise its influence immediately in a certain note. We'd view this one as a catalyst or detonator to be implemented (again, take action) in conjunction with some of the other strategies and tactics in other works. Pairs quite well with Getting Things Done (above) if we remember correctly.
Closing Notes
We would welcome commentary and criticism on this list, as well as recommendations for later inclusion. We have ourselves earmarked several notable exceptions so it will be interesting to see if these are brought to our attention.
For additional resources not listed above (mainly because we haven't read them yet), other reading lists and additional background on the design and construction of this reading list please see another later note that will discuss this in detail.