I was in conversation with the Dean of a business school last week. She had invited me to teach a course in the school’s EMBA program. She wanted to recommend a text book I had authored to participants in the course.
Flattering as it was, I was unsure what the book would do. It ran to more than 700 pages. It was suited to undergrads and masters students specialising in the subject. But for EMBA participants who were scheduled to have a 30 hour course on the subject, scheduled to to be completed in a week, the book could be a discouragement.
I thanked her for her kindness and requested her to hold till I found something more suited to the audience.
Big Fat books are ill suited to executive audiences who need rigor with simplicity and need to acquire knowledge that is relevant but within a limited time.