Phil Rosenzweig: The Books of a Business Professor

Phil Rosenzweig is a professor at IMD in Switzerland, where he teaches strategy and international business. Not limited to that, Phil’s expertise also includes firm performance and complex organisation design. He is the author of case studies on firms like Microsoft, Heineken, Vodafone and more. In the last decade, Phil Rosenzweig has switched his focus to critical thinking and managerial decision making, which is reflected in his highly regarded book The Halo Effect and the Eight Other Business Delusions that Deceive Managers. A book that identifies the errors that pervade much business thinking, and a book that has been instrumental in my development as a business owner. The book won the award for Best Business Book of the Year, and has since been translated into 14 languages. I feel very lucky to have had the privilege of speaking with Phil Rosenzweig, a man with over 30 years of business experience, having consulted for firms all around the world. If you’re an entrepreneur, a business owner or even just a manager of a team, you’ll want to read Phil’s books, and explore his reading list. Please enjoy my interview, with the insightful Phil Rosenzweig…

The Halo Effect and the Eight Other Business Delusions that Deceive ManagersThe Halo Effect and the Eight Other Business Delusions that Deceive Managers

When someone asks you ‘what do you do for a living?’ – How do you respond?

I say: “I’m a teacher.” If they want me to be more specific: “I’m a business school professor.”

What are you reading at the moment?

The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origin of Inequality by Angus Deaton.

When you think about your childhood, what book comes to mind?

The Sea Wolf by Jack London. Not just a great adventure story, across the Pacific in a seal-hunting schooner, but a tale about ideas and values. Also, the entire Tintin series, which I received over the years as gifts from my French relatives, and read in French. Hergé had a way of depicting native cultures with great empathy, which was particularly impressive as he rarely travelled from Belgium.

The Sea Wolf by Jack LondonThe Sea Wolf by Jack London

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I didn’t have a particular career ambition, but was always interested in history, politics, and world affairs.

Does your reading have routine? Is there a particular time or place that you like to read?

No special routine. I read at various places and times. Sprawled on a leather sofa is a particular favorite. Almost anytime except in bed before retiring, since I’m usually ready to sleep and don’t stay focused for long before drifting off.

Which book has had the biggest impact on your career so far?

A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel. I read the first edition in the 1970s, while a student of economics, and it shaped the way I think about probability and economics. Now in its 12th printing or so, and still very useful for investors.

A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton MalkielA Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel

Do you have any books that you strongly associate with someone important in your life?

My father was an avid reader of newspapers and magazines, as well as scientific articles, but rarely read books cover to cover. One exception was World of Our Fathers: The Journey of the East European Jews to America and the Life They Found and Made by Irving Howe, which had particular relevance as it was a sort of proxy for our family history.

What book have you recommended the most to friends and family?

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. I’ve recommended it to my children as they finish high school, and to executives in my courses at IMD as well. It can help you influence others – but more importantly, it will help you recognize when others are trying to influence you. Extremely useful for everyone.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert CialdiniInfluence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?

Non fiction. I’m not much of a fiction reader.

Do you think reading is important?

Very important, and for many reasons: to learn, to empathize with others, to see the world as they might.

What’s the best book you’ve read in the last 6 months?

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen. In fact, it’s the best book I’ve read in the last several years. For an American of my generation, raised during the Vietnam War, it’s irresistible.

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh NguyenThe Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Do you prefer real books or digital books?

I have never read a digital book. I like turning pages, making notes, flipping back and forth, and seeing the books on a shelf.

Name a book that you feel every human should have to read by law.

Encourage and support reading, but please don’t mandate by law!

What is the book that you feel has had the single biggest impact on your life?

Here are a few, in order read, which resonated at particular times:

What books or subject matter do you plan on reading in the next year?

History, psychology, economics, sports, biography.

If you’d like to learn more about Phil Rosenzweig and his important work, you can find him on his IMD professor page and his Twitter.

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