The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

by Atul Gawande
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Science and Innovation
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Paperback • £10.99
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Technical
  • ID: 3342
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9781847651877
  • Publisher: Profile Books
  • Published: 2010-07-09
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In 'The Checklist Manifesto,' Atul Gawande explores the transformative power of checklists in managing complexity and preventing failures. He argues that even the most skilled professionals can benefit from breaking down intricate tasks into manageable steps, ensuring consistency and accuracy. The book highlights real-world examples where checklists have dramatically improved outcomes, from reducing errors in surgery to enhancing airline safety. Gawande's insights reveal how this simple tool can be applied across various industries to achieve better results and mitigate risks. Gawande's work is not just about checklists but also about the human element in managing complexity. He discusses the psychological and practical barriers to implementing checklists and how to overcome them. The book is a compelling read for anyone interested in improving efficiency, safety, and performance in their personal or professional life.

Reviews
Business of Government · 2024-06-19
thought-provoking 4.25

The book is seen as a powerful treatise on leadership and operational efficiency. It offers valuable insights into how checklists can improve outcomes in complex tasks.

The reviewer views the book as a powerful treatise on leadership, highlighting its valuable insights into operational efficiency. They appreciate how the book demonstrates the transformative power of checklists in various fields, making a strong case for their widespread adoption. The reviewer finds the book to be both practical and thought-provoking, offering readers a new perspective on how to approach complex tasks and improve their decision-making processes. The book is seen as a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and operational effectiveness.

Quick quotes

    Dr. Atul Gawande's 'The Checklist Manifesto' is more than just a guide to operational efficiency; it is a powerful treatise on leadership.

    The book effectively demonstrates how checklists can save lives, with one review mentioning reduced deaths wherever they were used.

    It is a powerful treatise on leadership and operational efficiency.

Gemba Academy Blog · 2017-05-22
inspiring 4.50

The book is praised for its engaging storytelling and practical insights into medical practices. It is considered a quick and enjoyable read.

The reviewer highlights the book's ability to open readers' eyes to the realities of medical practice through engaging stories. They find the book short and easy to read, filled with practical insights that can be applied in various settings. The reviewer appreciates the author's ability to make complex topics accessible and interesting, making it a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their own processes. The book is seen as both informative and inspiring, encouraging readers to adopt the simple yet powerful technique of using checklists.

Quick quotes

    The book is short, easy to read, filled with stories that open our eyes to the realities of how medicine is practiced in surgical theaters.

    It's truly an amazing book that is in no way preachy but fun to read and will most definitely inspire to start using the simple technique from today.

    The book is more than just a guide to operational efficiency; it is a powerful treatise on leadership.

The New York Times · 2010-01-22
insightful 4.00

The book effectively uses examples from aviation and construction to illustrate the power of checklists. It presents a compelling argument for their use in various fields.

The reviewer appreciates how the author weaves in diverse examples from fields like aviation and skyscraper construction to demonstrate the effectiveness of checklists. They find the argument compelling and well-supported, showing how checklists can improve outcomes in complex tasks. The reviewer also notes that the book is well-researched and presents a clear, persuasive case for the importance of checklists in both professional and personal settings. Overall, the book is seen as an insightful and practical guide that can help readers improve their own processes and decision-making.

Quick quotes

    In making his argument, Gawande deftly weaves in examples of checklist successes in diverse fields like aviation and skyscraper construction.

    The book effectively demonstrates how checklists can save lives, with one review mentioning reduced deaths wherever they were used.

    It is a powerful treatise on leadership and operational efficiency.

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