Jim Collins

"Good is the enemy of great."

Jim Collins is author or coauthor of six books that have sold in total more than ten million copies worldwide, including the bestsellers Good to Great, Built to Last, and How the Mighty Fall. Jim began his research and teaching career on the faculty at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1992.

He now operates a management laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, where he conducts research, teaches, and consults with executives from the corporate and social sectors.

What topics and genres does Jim Collins write about?

He writes business and management books focused on leadership, organizational performance, corporate strategy, and why some organizations endure or fail. His work is research driven and aimed at executives and managers.

Which Jim Collins book should I start with?

Good to Great is the most widely known and a common starting point. After that, readers often go to Built to Last, Great by Choice, or How the Mighty Fall. There are also companion monographs such as Good to Great and the Social Sectors and Turning the Flywheel.

Are his books standalone or part of a series?

Most of his books are standalone studies of business topics, though a few are companion monographs that expand on themes from Good to Great.

What recurring themes or ideas appear in his work?

Recurring themes include why some organizations make the leap to sustained excellence while others do not, habits of visionary companies, how organizations respond to uncertainty and decline, and research-based frameworks for building enduring companies.

Has Jim Collins received notable recognition for his work?

Yes. His books have sold more than ten million copies worldwide and several are bestsellers. He also received the Distinguished Teaching Award at Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1992.