How Big Things Get Done

The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between

By: Bent Flyvbjerg, Dan Gardner

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

One of The Economist’s Best Books of 2023

The secrets to successfully planning and delivering ambitious, complex projects on any scale—from home renovation to space exploration—by the world's leading expert on megaprojects.

Nothing is more inspiring than a big vision that becomes a triumphant, new reality. Think of how the Empire State Building went from a sketch to the jewel of New York's skyline in twenty-one months, or how Apple’s iPod went from a project with a single employee to a product launch in eleven months.

These are wonderful stories. But most of the time big visions turn into nightmares. Remember Boston’s “Big Dig”? Almost every sizeable city in the world has such a fiasco in its backyard. In fact, no less than 92% of megaprojects come in over budget or over schedule, or both. The cost of California’s high-speed rail project soared from $33 billion to $100 billon—and won’t even go where promised. More modest endeavors, whether launching a small business, organizing a conference, or just finishing a work project on time, also commonly fail. Why?

Understanding what distinguishes the triumphs from the failures has been the life’s work of Oxford professor Bent Flyvbjerg, dubbed “the world’s leading megaproject expert.” In How Big Things Get Done, he identifies the errors in judgment and decision-making that lead projects, both big and small, to fail, and the research-based principles that will make you succeed with yours. For example:

• Understand your odds. If you don't know them, you won't win.
• Plan slow, act fast. Getting to the action quick feels right. But it's wrong.
• Think right to left. Start with your goal, then identify the steps to get there.
• Find your Lego. Big is best built from small.
• Be a team maker. You won't succeed without an "us."
• Master the unknown unknowns. Most think they can't, so they fail. Flyvbjerg shows how you can.
• Know that your biggest risk is you.

Full of vivid examples ranging from the building of the Sydney Opera House, to the making of the latest Pixar blockbusters, to a home renovation in Brooklyn gone awry, How Big Things Get Done reveals how to get any ambitious project done—on time and on budget.

For a visual representation of the charts and graphs mentioned throughout, as well as Appendix A and B, please be sure to download the Bonus PDF accompanying this program.

Fantastic book, cover to cover

Absolutely loved this one, cover to cover. Highly recommend, particularly for those in leadership roles or aspiring to join those ranks.

“Your biggest risk is you “

This is an important book. Written clearly and to the point. There are profound lessons woven together throughout; and discussed in a way that can be comprehended, visualized and put into use.

Must read for project management

Really good book on how to focus and deliver successful projects with real life simple examples

Superb advice delivered as entertainment

The author does a phenomenal job of presenting usable project management recommendations using stories of real, relatable projects and backs up his recommendations with data.

Exceptional wisdom

There are few books that pack such a wealth of cogent and practical advice. Although one could get great value from a few summary points alone, this is a book worth digesting in detail. As to performance, I believe the narrator nicely captured the nuances of the text.