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High Output Management
29 recommendations

High Output Management

by Andrew S. Grove

Marc AndreessenKeith RaboisMark Zuckerberg
Recommended by Marc Andreessen, Keith Rabois +
10 more

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Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
B

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
D

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
B

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
T

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
P

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
J

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
K

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
R

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

Source →
H

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.

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Recommended by 12 notable people, including Marc Andreessen and Keith Rabois

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Proof-backed recommendation

Amazon availability

Reading Profile

Difficulty:hard
Length:Medium(270 pages)
Themes:leverage vs activityoutput vs effort

Should I read this?

A lean, engineering-minded manual that treats management as a craft of maximizing leverage. Grove explains how to run meetings, set objectives, and evaluate performance with a clarity that cuts through typical business jargon. The book's value is its direct, actionable frameworks—like the "breakfast factory" analogy—that make abstract management tasks concrete. But its 1980s context shows: the examples feel dated, and it assumes a manufacturing mindset that may not translate smoothly to today's creative or remote teams. Some sections read like an internal memo—either refreshingly honest or disappointingly dry.

Read this if...

  • A first-time technical manager at a scaling startup who needs a systematic way to think about team output and delegation without fluff.
  • A senior engineer transitioning to group lead who is frustrated by vague "soft skills" advice and wants a logical, process-oriented management model.
  • An operations director in a hardware or manufacturing company who values lean principles and wants to tighten organizational efficiency with unadorned, practical tactics.

Skip this if...

  • You'll likely put it down when the advice on meetings and performance reviews feels more like a factory protocol than human-centered leadership.
  • Annoying if you dislike math-like metaphors applied to people (e.g., 'manager output = team output + influenced output') and crave emotional intelligence guidance.
  • Skip if you need modern, inclusive language; Grove's command-and-control tone and dated examples can feel jarring and out of step with today's collaborative cultures.

In this legendary business book and Silicon Valley staple, the former chairman and CEO of Intel shares his perspective on how to build and run a company. A practical handbook for navigating real-life business scenarios and a powerful management manifesto with the ability to revolutionize the way we work. "An organizational Baedeker for managers at all levels. . . . A highly credible handbook for organizing work and directing and developing employees." —The New York Times The essential skill of creating and maintaining new businesses—the art of the entrepreneur—can be summed up in a single word: managing. Born of Grove’s experiences at one of America’s leading technology companies (as CEO…

Before You Buy

Reading Specifications

Difficulty:hard

Length:270 pages (Medium)

Themes:
leverage vs activityoutput vs effortprocess vs intuition

Audience Fit

Recommended for:
  • A first-time technical manager at a scaling startup who needs a systematic way to think about team output and delegation without fluff.
  • A senior engineer transitioning to group lead who is frustrated by vague "soft skills" advice and wants a logical, process-oriented management model.
  • An operations director in a hardware or manufacturing company who values lean principles and wants to tighten organizational efficiency with unadorned, practical tactics.
Not ideal if you want:
  • You'll likely put it down when the advice on meetings and performance reviews feels more like a factory protocol than human-centered leadership.
  • Annoying if you dislike math-like metaphors applied to people (e.g., 'manager output = team output + influenced output') and crave emotional intelligence guidance.
  • Skip if you need modern, inclusive language; Grove's command-and-control tone and dated examples can feel jarring and out of step with today's collaborative cultures.

Check formats, pricing, and availability options for Kindle, physical print, or audiobooks directly.

View available editions on Amazon

Key themes

leverage vs activityoutput vs effortprocess vs intuitionmanagerial productivity vs individual contributionmanufacturing vs knowledge work

Why recommended

Recommended by 29 sources and appears in Management, Best Startup Books, and Best Business Books.

Recommended by notable people

People and public figures who have recommended this book.

Recommendation Signals

Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.

A

Adrienne Porter Felt

20/ High Output Management. Andy Grove’s masterpiece on management in a matrix organization. Though less hierarchical models may displace aspects of this, Grove teaches timeless concepts of managerial leverage and rules for delegation. @intel @intelcapital | @MichelleJWu High Output Management by Andy Grove | @RMB High output management | @haven2dotnet There are tons of management books to help you learn how to become a better manager Radical Candor, High Output Management, Crucial Conversations. Strategy comes with time and experience in the field. | @jozeran @Evanish great list and reviews. I definitely recommend adding High Output Management. Great @ev rec my first week at Twitter | Andy Grove, who built himself from nothing to run Intel, stopped what he was doing to teach us his magic. And not through some ghostwriter either — Andy wrote this book himself. What an incredible gift. | As Warren Buffett says, build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will. So this is what you want. Basically a performance machine that idiots can run. Now as a leader, what is your real job, what's your role Strictly speaking there is only one book ever written that actually explains how to do this. It's rather old, written in 1982 by Andy Grove, it's quite famous, and successful. And his definition of what your job is, is to maximize the output of the organization. | For founders transitioning to becoming managers. Here are three books worth reading. | High Output Management by Andy Grove. The famed Intel exec describes his approach to running a tech company. This book has been foundational within Silicon Valley; it's worth reading to understand the origin of many modern tech management practices. | His primary book source on management technique is Andy Grove’s High Output Management. | Larry Ellison considers High Output Management his bible when it comes to management concepts. | Played a big role in shaping my management style. | So Andy’s book is unapologetically almost a how to manual, but kind of deconstructs the world of business into first principles. It’s like, ‘Here’s what matters. Here’s how to think about it. No one needs a degree. There’s a little bit of circumstantial contextual understanding that you just have to have.’ But basically, at the end of the day, making business is an engineering exercise, which is brilliant for me because that actually made the whole thing about becoming CEO significantly less scary to me because engineering I understand. | Surprisingly, I found I was already using many of the management ideas in this book (1:1, OKRs, etc) which is a testament to just how influential this book is. | The best book on management ever written. | Userfriendly guide to the art and science of management.
View sources (17) ▾80%

Appears In

The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Try This Instead

Not sure if this is the right fit?

Consider The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. Recommended by 60 sources.

A blunt, conversational tour through the worst parts of building a company. Horowitz shares personal stories from his own startup failures and recoveries, offering practical wisdom on layoffs, pivots, CEO loneliness, and managing when times are bad. The value is in the honest, experience-based insight you won't get from business school. The limitation is its narrow focus on venture-backed tech startups—if you're not in that world, some advice may feel irrelevant. Reads like a wise mentor telling you what nobody else will.

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Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.

High Output Management

High Output Management

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