The Best Nonfiction Book I’ve Read in 8 Years

In contrast to the Whimsie on my love of fiction and why everyone should read stories, I want to share one the best nonfiction books I’ve ever read.

Notably, this is just the second (or perhaps third) nonfiction book that I’ve read cover to cover since 2018. While I’ve begun many in the years since, I’ve checked out of most by ⅓ of the way in. After binging on philosophy, self-development, business, and marketing books from 2016-2018, I’ve struggled to stay engaged with most nonfiction books I’ve tried reading since.

Anyway, if you’re interested in studying proven strategy and leadership ideas from someone who reached the pinnacle of success in their field numerous times over during a forty year career, I can’t recommend Total Competition: Lessons in Strategy from Formula 1 by Ross Brawn and Adam Parr enough.

Ross worked for many teams during his decades in Formula 1, beginning as an aerodynamicist, graduating to technical director, then closing his career as a team principal and owner. He’s won everything there is to win in F1, multiple times, including with his own self-titled team, Brawn GP in 2009.

Adam comes from a more traditional business background, finding himself as the CEO of Williams F1 in the mid 2000s, eventually being promoted to chairman where he was responsible for the team’s daily operations.

Total Competition is presented as an interview of Ross, led by Adam. Thanks to Adam having the welcome perspective of someone who worked in F1, he’s able to ask astute, informed questions that help draw out additional insight.

I picked this book up mostly because I needed a break from fantasy worlds after working through a few trilogies in quick succession, and the promise of gaining insight into the F1 world was tantalizing—but I didn’t expect the full-blown strategy and leadership education that I received, whose teachings are heavily influenced by Sun Tzu’s timeless treatise, The Art of War.

In a refreshing change of pace from many self-development books, Total Competition blends story and theory into practical insights, leaving you with a proper sense of knowledge gained. You’ll have to figure out how to apply said insights to your life on your own though, but I think you can handle that.

If you’re at all interested in the relentless behind-closed-doors politicking that goes on in Formula 1 (one of my primary incentives for reading this book in the first place), you won’t be disappointed. Even as a long-time fan, my understanding of how this crazy world works became much deeper.

In closing, I want to stress that I believe Total Competition has value to anyone who wants to improve, build, and sharpen their skills in leadership and/or strategy, regardless of any personal interest in Formula 1 or not. Nor do you need to have an existing understanding of how F1 works to get the most out of the insights and ideas contained within these pages.

Enjoy!

With love from the forest,

~ Alexander ‘Wiz’ Mullan