Black Box Thinking

10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLER

‘Will transform your entire perspective’ THE TIMES

‘A stirring call to revolutionise how we think about success’ DANIEL PINK, author of DRIVE

‘Brilliant’ JAMES DYSON

What is the secret to success? Black Box Thinking.

Ten years on from its original publication, Black Box Thinking remains a game-changing manifesto for success.

In this special anniversary edition – featuring brand new material from Matthew Syed – his bold thesis that failure, far from being something to fear, is the secret to innovation and improvement feels more urgent than ever.

Packed with gripping case studies, eye-opening research, and stories from elite sport, cutting-edge medicine, aviation, business, and beyond, Syed shows how the most progressive individuals and organizations treat mistakes not as threats, but as tools for growth.

This is a book for anyone striving to do better. It will change how you think about failure – and show you how to turn it into success.

‘Highly persuasive’ DAILY MAIL

‘It highlights the need for a growth mindset in life’ RICHARD BRANSON

‘A book that dares us to do better’ HOWARD JACOBSON

Author Biography

Matthew Syed (Author)

Matthew Syed is one of the UK’s most influential thinkers on mindset, performance, and culture. A former Olympic table tennis player turned award-winning journalist and bestselling author, his seven books – including Black Box Thinking, Rebel Ideas, and the groundbreaking You Are Awesome series for children – have sold over two million copies worldwide, been translated into more than 30 languages, and earned widespread acclaim for their accessible insight and compelling storytelling.

A sought-after speaker and founder of Matthew Syed Consulting, he advises leading organisations – from global businesses to national sports teams – on building high-performance cultures. He also presents BBC Radio 4’s Sideways, which has been downloaded over 15 million times, and writes for The Times and The Sunday Times. He has featured on top podcasts including The Diary of a CEO and High Performance. With a unique blend of sporting excellence, psychological insight, and sharp journalistic storytelling, Syed continues to challenge conventional thinking and inspire change across sectors.

Matthew Syed Consulting Ltd (Author)

Matthew Syed is one of the UK’s most influential thinkers on mindset, performance, and culture. A former Olympic table tennis player turned award-winning journalist and bestselling author, his seven books – including Black Box Thinking, Rebel Ideas, and the groundbreaking You Are Awesome series for children – have sold over two million copies worldwide, been translated into more than 30 languages, and earned widespread acclaim for their accessible insight and compelling storytelling.

A sought-after speaker and founder of Matthew Syed Consulting, he advises leading organisations – from global businesses to national sports teams – on building high-performance cultures. He also presents BBC Radio 4’s Sideways, which has been downloaded over 15 million times, and writes for The Times and The Sunday Times. He has featured on top podcasts including The Diary of a CEO and High Performance. With a unique blend of sporting excellence, psychological insight, and sharp journalistic storytelling, Syed continues to challenge conventional thinking and inspire change across sectors.