Tarzan Economics: Eight Principles for Pivoting through Disruption

by Will Page

A stunning new insight into how the most crucial lesson you can learn in today’s challenging business environment is how to change the fundamentals of what you do, rather than carry on fighting a battle that is already lost.

The near destruction of the music industry at the hands of online piracy and its subsequent recovery on the backs of digital streaming platforms is more than just the biggest story of disruption and reinvention of the digital age. It is also a trove of insights on how to confront the metamorphosis we are all facing in dealing with the Covid-19 era, as accelerating tech and economic changes reshape our work, our play and our very minds. 

Will Page, Spotify’s first chief economist, extrapolates music’s journey into eight guiding principles for pivoting through the ubiquitous disruption in nearly all industries. Expect the unexpected with transferable lessons coming from Starbucks, Tupperware and even Groucho Marx. The notion of 'Tarzan Economics' ties these principles together: a framework for recognising and acting on disruption, by letting go of the old vine and grabbing onto the new. Page joyfully brings these insights to life and provides a guide for knowing not just how to grab the new vine, but when. He assesses the new dynamics of the 'long tail', identifies friends and foes in the battle for scarce attention and provides a practical tool for discovering the right role for each of us to succeed in this new modern world.

As we emerge from the unprecedented disruption of a global pandemic, Tarzan Economics shows all of us - individuals, organisations and institutions - that if the vine we are holding onto is withering, we can have confidence to reach out for a new one in 2021 and beyond.

Genres: Business, Economics, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this higher if it was more evenly interesting, and lower if the beginning chapters hadn't hooked me so well. As my friend says, "Pop nonfiction is mostly filler for what should just be a magazine article."

My first month at my new job, Will Page gave us a lecture, promoting this book, and sharing some of the splashy insights. I really enjoyed the lecture, so I picked this up, and read it very slowly over the course of a year.

All in all, this book is best when it gives quotes, graphs, and stories about music, and worst when it purports theories and gives advice. But the good parts really are quite good.

[Sameer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will page has written a nice account on how to view situations , data differently and as he does that he gives beautiful examples from music industory. The changing of landscape when we all would buy CD s to free streaming of music and subsribers paying for a whole range available. This particular band launching their album for free and the music industory finally coming to terms with new digital world( took ten years to a accept). Other industries like newspapers , banking , Healthcare would need to pivot too. Intersting book. While to hold on to our old ways of doing business let us be open to be a SPOTIFY.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the central premise but making the book shorter would have made it stronger. My favorite chapters were the first few and then the last one as they were the most thoughtful and succinct. Definitely worth reading but swing quickly through the musings in the middle.

[Robin Burrowes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book, great case studies, the easiest macroeconomics book and one I wished I could have read when I was an economics student!

[Shannon Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are a builder or a farmer (read the book to the end for a great explanation) Will Page’s fantastic book is well worth the focused time that it takes to read. I’ve known the author online thru some shared email groups (we both know Jim Griffin who inspired the book title) so I’ve been anticipating this book since it was announced.

As a historian with a lengthy career in tech and a past of roles at both startups and massive corporations as well as being an amateur economist I found this a very thoughtful and insightful book. And one that challenges many assumptions about economists and economic analysis.

All companies (and individuals) need to prepare for disruption and think about where you individually and as a company want to land.

[Carol Zurita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!
Great insights!
The learnings from Spotify and the application of technology are not exclusive to the music or entertainment business. Thinking out of the box and with a touch of creativity, this book offers fantastic options to put in practice in many other businesses across several industries!

[Stein Erickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It won’t change your life but Will Page is definitely a smart guy with a eclectic and complete knowledge of economics. He has a good knack for questioning how the world works and how we can apply knowledge to real business examples.

[Christian Langenegger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading. A tad long-winded in parts, but a valuable message in the end.

[Akshdeep Sandhu]

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[Rich Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

I am usually wary of "business books" but this was an absolutely fantastic read. It makes a few good points very strongly and succinctly, with a great writing style and a clear focus.

I definitely recommend this for anyone interested in business or the future path of society in fact.

[Ip.Man Ade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good content.

[Garry Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good account fo how neoclassical economics can be overturned to create a platform based business model.