{"id":38942,"date":"2021-06-09T14:57:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T18:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=38942"},"modified":"2021-08-16T09:48:22","modified_gmt":"2021-08-16T13:48:22","slug":"the-infinite-game-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-infinite-game-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Infinite Game: Review, Inspiration, and Background"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is The Infinite Game<\/em> worth reading? What qualities, according to its author Simon Sinek<\/a>, make for a truly exceptional leader?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Infinite Game<\/em><\/a>, published in 2018 by Portfolio<\/a>, an imprint of Penguin Random House<\/a>, is Sinek\u2019s fifth book. It follows up and continues exploring many of the concepts in the Leaders Eat Last<\/em> and Start With Why<\/em>. Throughout these three books, he explores different takes on the idea that what makes a leader exceptional is a commitment to a higher purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This The Infinite Game <\/em>review takes a look at the book’s inspiration and background, intellectual context, and strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Infinite Game<\/em>: Inspiration and Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The book was inspired by and based on the concepts from James P. Carse\u2019s 1986 book Finite and Infinite Games<\/em><\/a>, which laid out the foundational idea that Sinek builds on\u2014namely, that every interaction we have with others is either part of a finite game, aimed at winning, or an infinite game, aimed at continuing the play. Carse was a theologian and philosopher, and saw infinite and finite games as part of every aspect of life, from religion to romance to geopolitical alliances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinek\u2019s twist applies these concepts to business strategy specifically. While Sinek was not the first to reflect on Carse\u2019s philosophies<\/a>, they remained somewhat on the fringe of cultural consciousness until Sinek linked them specifically to the world of business and launched them into the public eye again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intellectual Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sinek\u2019s work fits neatly into a contemporary view of leadership and business strategy that encourages people to think of larger issues more than their own immediate needs, and to focus on long-term rather than short-term concerns in order to find lasting success. Other books that touch on similar concepts include Ego Is the Enemy<\/em><\/a>, The Leadership Challenge<\/em><\/a>, and Built to Last<\/em><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinek also emphasizes the importance of focusing your efforts on one major, overriding purpose that gives your organization meaning. Other management books that advocate for this include the ones mentioned above as well as Greg McKeown\u2019s Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinek contrasts his theories with those of Milton Friedman<\/a>, who was an early advocate of modern capitalism<\/a> and the idea that self-interested incentives are the backbone of a healthy economy. Sinek argues that you can be successful by rejecting Friedman\u2019s philosophies, and, in fact, that rejecting self-interest can lead to even more success than chasing it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Book\u2019s Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The book sold well, hitting the number two spot on the New York Times bestseller<\/a> list in November of 2019. It was his second book to make the list, after Leaders Eat Last<\/em><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book frequently makes lists of recommended business books to read<\/a>, and was even included on the 2021 U.S. Navy\u2019s Professional Reading Program book list<\/a>, a list of books that every ship is equipped with and that sailors are encouraged to read (the program\u2019s motto is \u201cRead Well to Lead Well\u201d). (Sinek\u2019s other book, Leaders Eat Last<\/em>, is also included.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Infinite Game<\/em> launched Sinek to a new level of popularity, paving the way for him to start his own publishing imprint, Optimism Press<\/a>, in partnership with his longtime publisher Portfolio and under the umbrella of Penguin Random House. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Book\u2019s Strengths and Weaknesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Online reviewers who appreciate the book feel its concepts are a new way of thinking about business and success, and they enjoy the way Sinek constructs a clear plan and concrete techniques for developing an infinite mind. Many The Infinite Game <\/em>reviews say the book is for leaders who aim to be more than just business leaders, but also leaders of humanity. Some note that the concepts outlined in the book apply to peacekeeping missions and society in general, and they argue that if leaders followed its prescripts, the world would be better off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online reviewers who find fault with Sinek\u2019s book often argue that the book\u2019s insights aren\u2019t very original, but instead might be found in any self-help business book. Many also say that Sinek cherry-picks examples to support his arguments, and that his concepts don\u2019t work as well in real life as they do in theory. Additionally, some argue that it\u2019s unrealistic to expect business leaders, who are concerned with keeping their organizations viable, to put their own needs aside and focus on the needs of the wider world. Finally, some reviewers find fault with how Sinek has interpreted Carse\u2019s philosophies in the original Finite and Infinite Games<\/em> that inspired Sinek\u2019s book\u2014for example, critics argue that Sinek\u2019s reliance on the Cold War as an example of an infinite game might not properly represent Carse\u2019s ideas, since wartime activity is inherently a finite game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commentary on the Book\u2019s Approach<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The book does repackage ideas that can be found in many other management books, but Sinek never claims to be completely original\u2014in fact, he credits Carse\u2019s book as inspiration in the introduction. While his theories mirror those in many other books in the management genre (essentially repackaging effective leadership as different expressions of selflessness), his pairing of management techniques<\/a> with the idea of an \u201cinfinite game\u201d is original. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A more substantial critique is that his examples are occasionally only narrow illustrations of his theories. In practice, alternative examples that might demonstrate his ideas often come with caveats\u2014companies that lived up to his ideas but haven\u2019t succeeded as well as he might have predicted (like TOMS), or companies that succeeded very well and seem to fit with his theories but also benefited from other advantages that can also explain their success (like Apple, which benefited greatly from some luck along the way and whose founder Steve Jobs engaged in some finite, self-centered thinking, especially when Apple was young). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commentary on the Book\u2019s Organization<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The overall flow of Sinek\u2019s book follows this path:<\/p>\n\n\n\n