The Outsiders

Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success

William N. Thorndike | 4.43 | 7,903 ratings and reviews

Recommended by Charles T. Munger, Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, and 12 others. See all reviews

Ranked #8 in Business Planning, Ranked #9 in Business Biography — see more rankings.

”It is impossible to produce superior performance unless you do something different.” — John Templeton

What makes a successful CEO? Most people call to mind a familiar definition: a seasoned manager with deep industry expertise. Others might point to the qualities of today’s so-called celebrity CEOs—charisma, virtuoso communication skills, and a confident management style. But what really matters when you run an organization? What is the hallmark of exceptional CEO performance? Quite simply, it is the returns for the shareholders of that company over the long term.

In this refreshing, counterintuitive book, author Will Thorndike brings to bear the analytical wisdom of a successful career in investing, closely evaluating the performance of companies and their leaders. You will meet eight individualistic CEOs whose firms’ average returns outperformed the S&P 500 by a factor of twenty—in other words, an investment of $10,000 with each of these CEOs, on average, would have been worth over $1.5 million twenty-five years later. You may not know all their names, but you will recognize their companies: General Cinema, Ralston Purina, The Washington Post Company, Berkshire Hathaway, General Dynamics, Capital Cities Broadcasting, TCI, and Teledyne. In The Outsiders, you’ll learn the traits and methods—striking for their consistency and relentless rationality—that helped these unique leaders achieve such exceptional performance.

Humble, unassuming, and often frugal, these "outsiders” shunned Wall Street and the press, and shied away from the hottest new management trends. Instead, they shared specific traits that put them and the companies they led on winning trajectories: a laser-sharp focus on per share value as opposed to earnings or sales growth; an exceptional talent for allocating capital and human resources; and the belief that cash flow, not reported earnings, determines a company’s long-term value.

Drawing on years of research and experience, Thorndike tells eye-opening stories, extracting lessons and revealing a compelling alternative model for anyone interested in leading a company or investing in one—and reaping extraordinary returns. less

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Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of The Outsiders from the world's leading experts.

Warren Buffett CEO/Berkshire HathawayIn his 2012 shareholder letter, Buffett praises The Outsiders as "an outstanding book about CEOs who excelled at capital allocation." Berkshire Hathaway plays a major role in the book. One chapter is on director Tom Murphy, who Buffett says is "overall the best business manager I've ever met." (Source)

Charles T. Munger Vice Chairman/Berkshire HathawayRecommends this book

Charlie Munger Vice Chairman/Berkshire HathawayRecommends this book

Michael Dell CEO/Dell ComputersThorndike explores the importance of thoughtful capital allocation through the stories of eight successful CEOs. A good read for any business leader but especially those willing to chart their own course (Source)

Brian Armstrong Co-founder & CEO/CoinbaseRecommends this book

Austen Allred This is the best book on being a CEO I’ve ever read https://t.co/snoEVOqJGk https://t.co/GUsZNlnlpn (Source)

Thomas A. Russo The Outsiders celebrates leaders who kept their firms focused, rewarded their management despite long periods of inactivity, and—by keeping their companies out of trouble—found themselves free to pounce when compelling opportunities arose. A highly effective playbook for excellence (Source)

Mason Hawkins The Outsiders is a must-read for leaders—and aspiring leaders—striving to become exceptional CEOs, and for investors interested in partnering with exceptional stewards of corporate capital. (Source)

Michael Mauboussin 3/Will Thorndike's book, "The Outsiders," was a deep influence on the prize and selection process. Stiritz called it a "classic" in his acceptance speech. It is, and should at the top of the reading list for CEOs and investors. Bonus: Will's a great guy. https://t.co/Ih1eoUPSAe (Source)

Joshua M. Brown THE BEST CEO BOOK I’VE EVER READ https://t.co/oRxxrIf71u https://t.co/ql29NvUavI (Source)

Rankings by Category

The Outsiders is ranked in the following categories:

#75 in Business
#50 in Business Competition
#58 in Business Economics
#52 in Business Management
#25 in Business Strategy
#75 in CEO
#71 in Entrepreneurship
#41 in Finance
#13 in Investment
#44 in MBA
#75 in Management
#68 in Marketing
#15 in Personal Branding
#59 in Startup
#55 in Strategy
#34 in Wealth

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