What They Teach You at Harvard Business School Book Summary - What They Teach You at Harvard Business School Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What They Teach You at Harvard Business School summary

Philip Delves Broughton

My Two Years Inside The Cauldron of Capitalism

3.7 (413 ratings)
10 mins

Brief summary

What They Teach You at Harvard Business School is a behind-the-scenes look at the prestigious institution's teachings. The book offers practical advice on leadership, decision-making, and ethical behavior, providing valuable insights for aspiring business professionals.

Table of Contents

    What They Teach You at Harvard Business School
    Summary of 2 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 2

    The ABCs of business

    When he applied for his MBA at Harvard, Philip Delves Broughton was living in Paris with his wife and daughter, and working as a correspondent for The Daily Telegraph. It’s fair to say that business was never his passion. But something about the prestigious Harvard Business School, or HBS, attracted him. The school's website promised to teach students leadership, passion and a “moral compass”. 

    Once accepted into the program, Broughton found a sheltered, elite campus far from the rest of Harvard. Much of the campus facility felt like a hotel resort, and Broughton quickly understood what people meant when they referred to the “HBS bubble”. 

    Over the next few months, Broughton became acquainted with the subjects taught at HBS. The first year’s curriculum covered finance, marketing, operations, among others. In the second year, students could choose the courses they wanted to focus on. 

    HBS makes students work on case studies almost exclusively. For instance, in Broughton’s accounting class, students were asked to crack the case of a feudal landlord who wanted to know which of his peasant farmers was the most successful. The case was meant to show the difficulty of divining economic truth.

    Broughton quickly realized that he was one of the few people with no experience whatsoever in business. While many students came from a managerial, accounting or entrepreneurial background, Broughton hadn't even used Excel before. He was convinced this high-pressure Ivy League trial could lead him somewhere entirely new, however, so Broughton joined a study group with students of varying backgrounds to prepare the case studies for his classes. 

    In marketing, they analyzed Black & Decker's decline and its unpopular DeWalt tool line. The professor emphasized that companies need to understand the customer's wants, not just their own abilities.

    In finance, a lumber company called Butler Lumber kept needing more credit as it grew. Mismanaging cash flow was its big mistake. Broughton realized he'd done exactly this in his own life as an undergrad.

    In accounting, the professor promised to help them pursue "economic truth", even when it was extremely hard to determine. The mantra to this was assets = liabilities + equity

    For Technology and Operations Management, they dissected Benihana's novel restaurant model. The detailed case studies had given him the sense that he could waltz into any business and reengineer it for more profitability. By semester's end, Broughton felt more confident. He learned that the older HBS students called this overconfidence syndrome "Beginnihana".

    Broughton found that preparing all of his case studies took much longer than expected – the administration told them they should expect “only” about 60 hours of work a week. He found the hours to be longer still.

    Slowly, Broughton began getting the hang of business terms and concepts that had seemed totally nebulous before. 

    One of his greatest lessons was understanding the importance of risk. He realized that in business, risk is paramount. Not just the risk of something bad happening, but also the risk of something good not happening. The more advanced MBA students measured everything in opportunity cost – the risk of missing out on something good. 

    More than that, Broughton learned that risk was almost impossible to assess definitively. Indeed, many business measures turned out to be more of an art than a science. In accounting, for example, messy rules and biased interpretations obscured economic truth. Companies frequently played the “numbers game”, meaning that they adjusted their earnings to appear more profitable than they actually were. 

    Want to see all full key ideas from What They Teach You at Harvard Business School?

    Key ideas in What They Teach You at Harvard Business School

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is What They Teach You at Harvard Business School about?

    What They Teach You at Harvard Business School (2008) is a candid insider's view into one of the world’s most prestigious business schools, providing insights into its curriculum, culture, and impact on students' lives. Through case studies, math, and unsolicited advice, it follows one unlikely student’s memorable experience obtaining this coveted MBA, revealing both the strengths and shortcomings of the HBS education along the way.

    What They Teach You at Harvard Business School Review

    What They Teach You at Harvard Business School (2010) is a book that gives readers an inside look at the prestigious institution and its teachings. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • It offers a behind-the-scenes perspective of what goes on at Harvard Business School, providing valuable insights into the world of business education.
    • Through personal anecdotes and interviews, it brings the experiences and lessons of Harvard graduates to life, making it relatable and engaging.
    • The book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to think critically about the principles of business, making it thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating.

    Who should read What They Teach You at Harvard Business School?

    • Business and marketing students
    • Those curious about the inner workings of the world-renowned Harvard Business School
    • Anyone considering doing an MBA

    About the Author

    Philip Delves Broughton was born in Bangladesh, grew up in the UK, and has lived in major cities across Europe and America during his career as a newspaper reporter and writer. After graduating from Oxford and working for over a decade covering world events for the Daily Telegraph, Broughton received his MBA from Harvard Business School and has since held positions at Apple, the Kauffman Foundation, the Financial Times, and the American Academy in Rome.

    Categories with What They Teach You at Harvard Business School

    Book summaries like What They Teach You at Harvard Business School

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    35 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    What They Teach You at Harvard Business School FAQs 

    What is the main message of What They Teach You at Harvard Business School?

    Unlock the secrets to success and learn valuable business lessons from the prestigious Harvard Business School.

    How long does it take to read What They Teach You at Harvard Business School?

    The estimated reading time for What They Teach You at Harvard Business School is several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is What They Teach You at Harvard Business School a good book? Is it worth reading?

    What They Teach You at Harvard Business School is a valuable read for anyone interested in business. Gain insights from one of the top business schools in the world.

    Who is the author of What They Teach You at Harvard Business School?

    The author of What They Teach You at Harvard Business School is Philip Delves Broughton.

    What to read after What They Teach You at Harvard Business School?

    If you're wondering what to read next after What They Teach You at Harvard Business School, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School by Mark H. McCormack
    • Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs by Karen Berman & Joe Knight with John Case
    • The 12-Week MBA by Nathan Kracklauer & Bjorn Billhardt
    • Financial Intelligence by Karen Berman & Joe Knigh with John Case
    • The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
    • The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
    • Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo
    • Either/Or by Soren Kierkegaard
    • Likeable Badass by Alison Fragale
    • How to Become a People Magnet by Marc Reklau