Black Box Thinking: Growth Mindset and the Secrets of High Performance

by Matthew Syed, Matthew Syed

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

399 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2025

About the author

Matthew Syed is an author and highly acclaimed speaker in the field of high performance. He has written six bestselling books on the subject of mindset and high performance – Rebel Ideas, Bounce, Black Box Thinking, The Greatest, and his celebrated children’s books, You Are Awesome and The You Are Awesome Journal – and has worked with many leading organisations to build a mindset of continuous improvement. He is also a multi-award-winning journalist for The Times and a regular contributor to television and radio. In his previous career, Matthew was the England table tennis number one for almost a decade.

Matthew’s work explores a thought-provoking approach to high performance in the context of a complex and fast-changing world. By understanding the intimate connection between mindset and high performance, organisations can unlock untapped potential in individuals and teams, driving innovation and agility to secure a future-proofed environment.



Matthew is also co-founder of Matthew Syed Consulting (MSC); the company has worked with an impressive portfolio of clients to build growth mindset cultures and drive higher performance in individuals, teams and organisations. Matthew Syed Consulting’s cutting-edge thought leadership programme and digital learning tools are becoming a catalyst for real and lasting change within business and the public sector.

Reviews

[Nomad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and thought provoking exploration of how we deal with failure and more importantly, how we should deal with it.

In today's ever increasing cancel culture climate, admitting to a mistake can feel like career suicide, leading to cover ups, denial and scapegoating. The author looks at how the ‘blame game ’ stifles improvement and introduces the concept of a ‘just culture’. He gives examples of how this approach has transformed mindsets in many fields, in particular aviation and healthcare.

I found the style of writing engaging, clear, and filled with real world examples that make the ideas come alive. He manages to communicate complex concepts in an accessible way, without oversimplifying. This book was gripping from start to finish, I genuinely didn’t want it to end. More than just informative, I found it inspiring.
This has been one of my most enjoyable, impactful books of the year and has given me food for thought!

[Aida Saldana Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book with lots of stories about real experiences with growth mindset.