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204 ratings | 24 reviews | avg rating:4.01

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Prof Clayton F. Williams

Goodreads Author

Born

South Africa

Website

http://www.profclaytonwilliams.com

Genre

Science, Business, History

Member Since

December 2017

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Prof Clayton Fraser Williams is the author of What Strategy Is: The 18 Fundamental Laws of Strategy, a major work that challenges the reduction of strategy to planning, execution, positioning, or managerial cliché.

His work draws on complexity science, thermodynamics, information theory, systems thinking, corporate finance, military thought, and strategic practice to develop a more rigorous account of how individuals, firms, institutions, and societies navigate uncertainty.

Clayton has served as Chief Executive Officer of three mid-cap companies, where his work centred on building, repairing, and re-cohering organisations into strategic systems capable of sensing, deciding, adapting, and executing under pressure. He later served as a strategy ...more

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Prof Clayton F. Williams’s books

Average rating: 4.59 · 39 ratings · 14 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

What Strategy is: The 18 Fundamental Laws of Strategy

4.59 avg rating — 39 ratings — 2 editions

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Prof is Currently Reading

Prof Williams is currently reading

The German Way of War: From the Thirty Years' War to the Third Reich (Modern War Studies)

by Robert M. Citino

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Aug 30, 2026 10:41AM

Prof Williams is currently reading

The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age

by Simon Schama

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Apr 08, 2026 09:45AM

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The Master Builder: How the New Science of the Cell Is Rewriting the Story of Life

by Alfonso Martinez Arias

bookshelves: 2025, currently-reading

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Nov 18, 2025 04:33AM

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Prof Williams is currently reading The German Way of War: From the Thirty Years' War to the Third Reich (Modern War Studies) by Robert M. Citino	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 30, 2026 10:41AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The German Way of War by Robert M. Citino. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The German Way of War by Robert M. Citino <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Prof Williams rated a book it was amazing SAS: helden en schurken : hoe de speciale Britse eenheid de nazi's saboteerde by Ben Macintyre	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 30, 2026 10:31AM · like
Prof Williams liked Mary's review of What Strategy is: The 18 Fundamental Laws of Strategy: "Good book "
Aug 16, 2026 10:51PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of What Strategy is by Prof Clayton F. Williams. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — What Strategy is by Prof Clayton F. Williams <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Prof Williams liked AMAO's review of What Strategy is: The 18 Fundamental Laws of Strategy: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "💯💯💯💯💯"
Jul 08, 2026 07:25AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of What Strategy is by Prof Clayton F. Williams. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — What Strategy is by Prof Clayton F. Williams <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Prof Williams answered MR L's question: Hi Professor Williams. I’ve recently been reading 'What Strategy Is' and found your QCEA perspective on strategy as a complex-adaptive process both compelling and refreshing. I’d love to explore this work further beyond the book. Do you have any upcoming courses, workshops, webinars, or recorded talks where you discuss the QCEA paradigm or related ideas that you’d recommend? Regards, Laurie Hi Laurie, My apologies for the tardy reply - as you can image, I'm a bit swamped after the launch. I will be launching a YouTube channel into the future, but for the moment you can follow me on Substack. https://substack.com/@profclaytonwill... my websi See Full Answer
Jun 20, 2026 10:59AM · like
Prof Williams and 2 other people liked Sigourney's review of What Strategy is: The 18 Fundamental Laws of Strategy: "Clayton doesn’t write another “how-to” manual or recycle the usual playbook jargon. What Strategy Is feels more like a scientific expedition - a deep dive into the machinery of strategic thinking itself. Williams builds a bridge between physics, biol" Read more of this review »
Jun 19, 2026 09:06PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of What Strategy is by Prof Clayton F. Williams. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — What Strategy is by Prof Clayton F. Williams <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Prof Williams rated a book it was amazing Richard III by William Shakespeare	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 18, 2026 09:19AM · like
Prof Williams made a comment on Reed K’s review of What Strategy is: The 18 Fundamental Laws of Strategy " Thank you for your very generous and thoughtful review. Reviews like this help guide the audience and manage their expectations. The book was written ...more "
Apr 29, 2026 10:07PM · see review
Prof Williams made a comment on Gabi Y’s review of What Strategy is: The 18 Fundamental Laws of Strategy " Thank you for this review. I feel you've captured the essence of the target audience: An audience who will feel respected by not being condescended to ...more "
Apr 29, 2026 10:05PM · see review
Prof Williams made a comment on Alexander S’s review of What Strategy is: The 18 Fundamental Laws of Strategy " Thank you for your very transparent and generous review. Reviews like this really help the audience understand what to expect! "
Apr 29, 2026 10:02PM · see review