Kenilworth Books is pleased to sponsor

Obliquity: Why Our Goals Are Best Achieved Indirectly

~ a talk by John Kay

on Friday 14th May 2010, 7.30 pm 
at The Holiday Inn, Abbey End, Kenilworth

“Original, widely-applicable concept from one of the world’s foremost economists.  Obliquity will be the Tipping Point for the new decade”
(Publishing March 2010)

If you want to go in one direction, the best route may involve going in another.  This is the concept of obliquity.  Paradoxical as it sounds, many goals are more likely to be achieved when pursued indirectly.  Whether overcoming geographical obstacles, winning decisive battles, or meeting sales targets, history shows that oblique approaches are the most successful, especially in difficult terrain.  Pre-eminent economist, John Kay, applies his provocative, universal theory to everything from international business to town planning and from football to managing forest fires.  He shows why the most profitable companies are not always the most profit-orientated; why the richest men and women are not the most materialistic; and why the happiest people are not necessarily those who focus on happiness.

John Kay is a visiting professor at LSE and a fellow of St John’s College, Oxford.  A former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, he was the first director of the Said Business School, Oxford, is a regular columnist for the Financial Times, and author of numerous books.  His new book, ‘Obliquity: Why Our Goals are Best Achieved Indirectly’, goes on sale in March 2010 and John will be signing copies at his talk.

Tickets priced at £5 are available via the Kenilworth Festival website, by ringing Oxboffice on 0845 680 1926 or from Kenilworth Books.