I Ching
THE ART OF CHANGE
Patterns for Success

A Modern Interpretation by Erik Schön

First printing, July 2024
Amazon .com .de .uk .se | Leanpub | Google | Medium (free) Audiobook | Sample chapters 

Lao Tzu
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Purpose and Integrity

for Sustainable Success

Interpreted and Compiled by Erik Schön

Second printing, April 2023
Amazon .com .de .uk .se Leanpub Google |  Medium (free) | Audiobook | Sample chapters | Presentation | Article Revisions to the first printing

Sun Tzu, John Boyd, Simon Wardley

THE ART OF STRATEGY
Steps Towards Business Agility

Interpreted and Compiled by Erik Schön
Fourth printing, August 2024

Amazon .com .de .uk .se | Leanpub | Google | Medium (free) 
| Audiobook Sample chapters Curated collection of Wardley Maps | Revisions to the first printing | Revisions to the second printing 
| Revisions to the third printing






THE ART OF CHANGE

What is change?

Why is it important?

How do you change successfully?

 

THE ART OF CHANGE provides timeless answers to these eternal questions. It is a modern reading of The Book of Changes, in Chinese I Ching, with focus on practical guidance for actions and decisions, consciously leaving out the fortune-telling parts. It is an interpretation of 64 short sections on how to successfully create and respond to change in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world where the rate of change is increasing daily.

 

Through diverse situations and patterns, you will discover new perspectives on people and their behaviours, get actionable advice on handling and creating change strategically and effectively, and, thus, learn how to make a difference: discover solutions for your current situation by exploring relevant sections and considering how you can apply the change patterns in your context. 

 

You will also improve your understanding of China and Chinese ways of transforming, leading and strategising since The Book of Changes is deeply ingrained in Chinese thinking, decision-making and actions, e.g. as part of civil servant education for over 2,000 years and as a primary influence on Sun Tzu’s Art of War and Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching.

 

"Drawing both on ancient philosophy and today’s experience of running a tech company, Erik provides better perspective on change and how to think about it and manage it than the more frantic advice we get from modern business books."  Hunter Hastings, executive director and value creator

  

"I really liked how you turned an ancient and complex text into something so practical and easy to understand for modern times. Congrats on making these ideas clear and helpful for anyone looking to improve themselves and lead with purpose!"  Excelsior Ignu, storyteller

 

"Thank you for sharing all these profound insights, which remain highly relevant, in a very digestible format!"  Johan Ivari, officer and teacher

 

“I have read things that I needed to read — right now, in my life. As usual, the I Ching never fails."  Rod Leaverton, strategist

 

"This is wonderful."  Frank Chiaro, passionate explorer

 

HARDCOVER

With extended glossary and extensive index,
186 pages printed in
premium colour 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Germany

PAPERBACK

With extended glossary and extensive index,
186 pages printed in colour 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Germany

E-READER

With extended glossary, extensive index and hyperlinks

Amazon Kindle Reader
Google Play Books 

SCREEN

With extended glossary, extensive index and hyperlinks
Leanpub

AUDIOBOOK

Medium, 8 parts,
5-10 min listen each

MOBILE

Medium8 parts,
5-10 min read each


THE ART OF CHANGE – PODCASTS

51 min conversation
with Hunter Hastings
The Value Creators
October 18, 2024

Apple podcast

Spotify podcast

9 min conversation 
with Len Epp
Leanpub Book LAUNCH!
August 9, 2024

60 min conversation 
with Marcus Aurelius Anderson
 Acta Non Verba
July 17, 2024
Apple podcast
Spotify podcast
 



THE ART OF LEADERSHIP

What is leadership?

Why is this important?

How do you lead successfully?

 

THE ART OF LEADERSHIP provides timeless answers to these eternal questions. It is a modern reading of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching — a guide for leaders in turbulent times in ancient China. It is an interpretation of 81 short, poetic sections on leadership, people and how to succeed together in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world where the rate of change will never be slower than today.

 

You will discover new perspectives on the world, people and their behaviours, get actionable advice on how to lead strategically and effectively, and, learn how to make a difference using purpose and integrity instead of pressure and control.

 

You will also improve your understanding of China, Chinese ways of leading and strategising since the Tao Te Ching is deeply ingrained in Chinese thinking, decision-making and actions. 

 

"The Art of Leadership is a beautifully deep exploration of leadership based on a modern interpretation of my favourite Chinese classic, the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu."  Rod Leaverton, strategist
 

"I love this interpretation of Lao Tzu’s  Tao Te Ching. The insights go beyond what I could possibly imagine. After leading a tech company for more than 26 years there is still so much to learn and study. Thank you Erik for bringing these more than wise words to our attention."  Jørn Larsen, CEO and founder, Trifork

 

“This is powerful, this is for practical people struggling with business goals.”   Goran Skugor, competence manager 

 

Hardcover

With extended glossary and extensive index,
170 pages printed in
premium colour 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Germany

Paperback

With extended glossary and extensive index,
170 pages printed in colour 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Germany

E-Reader

With extended glossary and extensive index

Amazon Kindle Reader
Google Play Books 

Screen

With extended glossary, extensive index and hyperlinks
Leanpub

AUDIOBOOK

Medium, 13 parts,
5-10 min listen each

PRESENTATIONS

The Art of Leadership
Article, 5 min read
Slide deck, 16 pages


THE ART OF LEADERSHIP – PODCASTS

Conversation with Ulrika Vincent 
Agical Radio
July 24, 2023
Shownotes, in Swedish
Podcast, 40 min in Swedish
Extra material, 13 min in Swedish

Conversation with Si Alhir
De-X-Constructed
September 26, 2024

Podcast, 48 minutes


ART OF LeadershIP – PRESENTATIONS

THE FIRST AGILIST

Fit For the Future?

10 minute lightning talk
Agile Sweden

May 25, 2023
Slide deck, 15 pages

LEADERSHIP
for Sustainable Success
in Turbulent Times
48 minute conversation
Wardley Maps for Business
May 19, 2023
Slide deck, 14 pages

Mapping Leadership, Strategy and Development Capabilities
58 minutes
Wardley Mapping Community Event

September 19, 2022
 Slide deck, 23 pages

THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Leadership from First Principles
in Turbulent Times
XP 2022 Leadership Track

June 15, 2022
Slide deck, 16 pages



THE Art OF StRATEGY

What is strategy?

Why do you need it?

How do you do it?

And, how can you be more certain to succeed?


The Art of Strategy provides timeless answers to these eternal questions. It is a short introduction to strategy through the insights of three successful strategists: Sun Tzu, John Boyd and Simon Wardley. It is a modern interpretation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War - the strategy classic written in China around 500 BC - using the lenses of Boyd (OODA "loop" inventor) and Wardley (Wardley Map inventor) who were both influenced by Sun Tzu.

 

Each chapter gently transforms The Art of War into a modern business setting and includes material from Boyd and Wardley in separate sections to complement and clarify Sun Tzu's terse, poetic text. The idea is to serve strategy in 13 short chapters requiring 5-10 minutes reading time each. An extensive glossary is included since many Chinese concepts are purposefully abstract and ambiguous.

 

You will discover new thinking patterns, e.g. OODA "loops" and situational awareness, as well as visualisation tools like Wardley Maps that will help you and your organisation succeed together with your stakeholders. You will also improve your understanding of the – sometimes evil – political gameplays (and counter-measures!) used by Nancy Pelosi, Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xí Jìnpíng who are all inspired by Sun Tzu, in some cases indirectly via Boyd. 

 

Hardcover

With extended glossary and extensive index,
192 pages printed in
premium colour 

Amazon US

Amazon UK 

Amazon Germany

Paperback

With extended glossary and extensive index,
192 pages printed in
premium colour 

Amazon US

Amazon UK 

Amazon Germany

E-Reader

With extended glossary and extensive index

Amazon Kindle Reader
Google Play Books 

Screen

With extended glossary, extensive index and hyperlinks
Leanpub

Curated collection of Wardley Maps, 9 min read

AUDIOBOOK

Medium, 13 parts,
5-10 min listen each

PresentationS

Doctrine or Dogma?
Blog post, 12 min read
Video, 46 min
Slide deck, 28 pages
Seeing Around Corners

Blog post, 10 min read
Slide deck, 26 pages


ART OF STRATEGY – Reviews

"A great little book with loads of maps in there."  Simon Wardley, inventor of Wardley Mapping

 

"The Art of Strategy is condensed knowledge that all managers, agile coaches and other leaders should have. This is three thinkers from very different contexts. But as Erik has put it, with similarities and differences topic by topic, a fourth voice appears. That voice belongs to the interaction between the three narrators and it gives as much value to me as a reader as the other three voices do."  Staffan Nöteberg, author of Monotasking

 

"Erik Schön has created a great example of Boyd’s 'snowmobile' — a synthesis across a variety of domains leading to new insights and capabilities. I’m sure every strategist, business leader, and entrepreneur will find valuable ideas for making their own enterprises more competitive."  Chet Richards, author of Certain to Win: The Strategy of John Boyd, Applied to Business

  

"A great resource for anyone into effective strategy. As a fan of Wardley Mapping and have written about it myself previously I find this book is a great resource that ties in Sun Tzu and Boyd as I have been looking for a hardback that covers these elements of strategy. Many thanks Erik for bringing this book out!"  Aidan Molloy, senior product manager

"I like the layout & style, 'let the ideas speak for themselves.'"  @frescoseco 

 

“An excellent fusion of SunTzu, Boyd, and Wardley that is beautifully laid out, highly readable and very straightforward in compressing the learning curve on all three!“  Mark J. McGrath, chief learning officer

 

"THE summary and independent look on modern strategy right now!!!"  Markus Andrezak, founder and managing partner 

 

ART OF STRATEGY – PODCASTS

Panel with
Ben Mosior,
Rod Leaverton, Si Alhir and Todd Nilson

The Art of War
in the Wild

July 16 +  July 18, 2024 
Part 1, 60 min
Part 2, 62 min

75 min conversation
with Mark J. McGrath and Brian "Ponch" Rivera
No Way Out
May 8, 2023

Show notes, chapter markers
Apple podcast
Spotify podcast 

53 min conversation 
with Hunter Hastings
 Economics for Business
February 6, 2023
Podcast + show notes
 

58 min conversation
with Markus Andrezak
Strategie Machen
July 1, 2020

18 min conversation
with Jørn Larsen 
GOTO Book Club
June 22, 2020

Blog post, 5 min read

31 min conversation
with
Barry Bettman 
Business Agility
September 4, 2019


ART OF STRATEGY – PRESENTATIONS

Wardley Mapping Strategy
at BigCorp
a True Story

40 minutes

GOTO Copenhagen

October 4, 2023
Slide deck, 38 pages

Mapping Leadership,
Strategy and
Development Capabilities

58 minutes 
Wardley Mapping Community Event
September 19, 2022
Slide deck, 23 pages

Wardley Mapping Strategy & Capabilities at BigCorp
a True Story
48 minutes

Map Camp Use Case Edition
 November 23, 2021

Slide deck, 36 pages

DOCTRINE OR DOGMA? Challenge Your Assumptions in a Friendly Way!
46 minutes
 Map Camp Germany
July 29, 2020
Blog post, 12 min read

Slide deck, 28 pages

THE ART OF STRATEGY
Steps Towards
Business Agility
46 minute keynote
Agile Leadership Conference
March 13, 2019

Blog post, 11 min read
Slide deck, 42 pages



Writer

ERIK SCHÖN is a change catalyst who has successfully led global organisations for more than 20 years. Hacker, software researcher and system engineer turned leader, executive and strategist, Erik is the author of the widely acclaimed trilogy The Art of Change, The Art of Leadership and The Art of Strategy.
Erik's favourite books on strategy, product development, Sun Tzu and Boyd on Goodreads.

A short interview and blog post about the art of creating "The Art of Strategy" using LaTeX/Overleaf inspired by Edward Tufte's beautiful books.

Erik's articles on strategy, leadership and ways of working.

Erik's videos on strategy, leadership and ways of working.