{"title":"Books by Bent Flyvbjerg","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780226254517","title":"Rationality \u0026 Power – Democracy in Practice (Paper)","description":"In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined, independent of context; we know what rationality is, and its meaning is constant across time and space. However, Bent Flyvbjerg argues that rationality is context-dependent and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' political power. Flyvbjerg takes us behind the scenes to uncover the real politics - and real rationality - of public administration and planning in an internationally acclaimed project for environmental improvement in the Danish city of Aalborg. The result is a narrative that is both concrete and general, current and timeless. Drawing on the ideas of Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Habermas, and Foucault, Flyvbjerg reads the Aalborg case as a metaphor of modernity and of modern politics. Flyvbjerg shows how power actually distorted policy deliberation over a policy aimed at, among other things, reducing auto traffic in downtown Aalborg. He demonstrates how modern \"rationality\" can only be an ideal when confronted with the real rationalities involved in decision-making by administrators and policy makers.   Flyvbjerg then elaborates on how this problem can be avoided so that fruitful deliberation and action can occur.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56227776823669,"sku":"9780226254517","price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780226254517_a91f202d-945e-4782-bd19-30b3c5a66ffc.jpg?v=1786012355"},{"product_id":"9781035018956","title":"How Big Things Get Done","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBest Books of the Year \u003c\/b\u003e– \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Financial Times \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Economist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eShortlisted for the \u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/i\u003e and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorld expert Bent Flyvbjerg and bestselling author Dan Gardner reveal the secrets to successfully planning and delivering ambitious projects on any scale.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘Important, timely, instructive and entertaining’ – Daniel Kahneman, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThinking, Fast and Slow\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNothing is more inspiring than a big vision that becomes a triumphant new reality. Think of how Apple’s iPod went from a project with a single employee to an enormously successful product launch in eleven months. But such successes are the exception. Consider how London’s Crossrail project delivered five years late and billions over budget. More modest endeavours, whether launching a small business, organizing a conference, or just finishing a work project on time, also commonly fail. Why?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnderstanding what distinguishes the triumphs from the failures has been the life’s work of Oxford professor Bent Flyvbjerg. In \u003ci\u003eHow Big Things Get Done\u003c\/i\u003e, he identifies the errors that lead projects to fail, and the research-based principles that will make yours succeed:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eUnderstand your odds.\u003c\/b\u003e If you don’t know them, you won’t win.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePlan slow, act fast. \u003c\/b\u003eGetting to the action quick feels right. But it’s wrong.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThink right to left. \u003c\/b\u003eStart with your goal, then identify the steps to get there.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFind your Lego.\u003c\/b\u003e Big is best built from small.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMaster the unknown unknowns.\u003c\/b\u003e Most think they can’t, so they fail. Flyvbjerg shows how you can.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFull of vivid examples ranging from the building of the Sydney Opera House to the making of the latest Pixar blockbusters, \u003ci\u003eHow Big Things Get Done\u003c\/i\u003e reveals how to get any ambitious project done – on time and on budget.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Entertaining . . . compelling . . . there are lessons here for managers of all stripes' – \u003ci\u003eThe Economist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'My only complaint about this book is that it wasn’t written earlier' – Ola Rosling, bestselling co-author of \u003ci\u003eFactfulness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56296165409141,"sku":"9781035018956","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781035018956_e877d7d1-417f-4695-9c38-dde41ac90757.jpg?v=1786017314"},{"product_id":"9798892791946","title":"HBR's 10 Must Reads 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe definitive leadership and management ideas of the year from \u003ci\u003eHarvard Business Review\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe've reviewed the ideas, insights, and best practices from the past year of \u003ci\u003eHarvard Business Review\u003c\/i\u003e to keep you up to date on the most cutting-edge, influential thinking driving business today. Featuring examples from leaders such as Jensen Huang and Jane Fraser, and companies from Hermès to OpenAI, this volume brings a year's worth of management wisdom right to your fingertips.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book will inspire you to:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEliminate dysfunction in your leadership team\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApply the right kinds of questions to strategic decisions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBring everyone on board with your AI efforts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesign innovative products that grow with your customers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBetter assess what macroeconomic risk means for your business\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a corporate culture that truly aligns with your values\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis collection of articles includes: \"The Art of Asking Smarter Questions,\" by Arnaud Chevallier, Frédéric Dalsace, and Jean-Louis Barsoux; \"The Uniqueness Trap,\" by Bent Flyvbjerg, Alexander Budzier, M.D. Christodoulou, and M. Zottoli; \"Why Multibusiness Strategies Fail and How to Make Them Succeed,\" by Bharat N. Anand and David J. Collis; \"One Company A\/B Tested Hybrid Work. Here's What It Found,\" by Nicholas Bloom, James Liang, and Ruobing Han; \"Build a Corporate Culture That Works,\" by Erin Meyer; \"Why Leadership Teams Fail,\" by Thomas Keil and Marianna Zangrillo; \"How to Assess True Macroeconomic Risk,\" by Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak and Paul Swartz; \"Five Ways to Ask Your Boss to Advocate for You,\" by Melody Wilding; \"What Comes After DEI,\" by Lily Zheng; \"For Success with AI, Bring Everyone On Board,\" by David De Cremer, \"Design Products That Won't Become Obsolete,\" by Vijay Govindarajan, Tojin T. Eapen, and Daniel J. Finkenstadt; and \"The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift,\" by Kevin Evers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHBR's 10 Must Reads\u003c\/b\u003e are definitive collections of classic ideas, practical advice, and essential thinking from the pages of \u003ci\u003eHarvard Business Review\u003c\/i\u003e. Exploring topics like disruptive innovation, emotional intelligence, and new technology in our ever-evolving world, these books empower any leader to make bold decisions and inspire others. \u003cb\u003e This edition features a detailed discussion guide to give you and your team the tools you need for sustained success.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56310941745525,"sku":"9798892791946","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9798892791946_b325d0e8-3178-4492-bb47-028fb6f65564.jpg?v=1786033009"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-bent-flyvbjerg.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}