I'm the other guy

From World War II, to Shakespeare to Undercover Boss. I'm finally figuring this out. Also: 7 other things worth a click

My dad reads Understandably.

We talked this week about my new favorite phrase: “single source of truth.”

He’s been reading a book called The Secret War, by Max Hastings, about intelligence and espionage during World War II.

Common thread between the book and this newsletter: how hard it is for leaders to learn the legitimate, ground truth about their own organizations.

For example, Hastings writes about how Joseph Stalin failed to predict Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union.

He suggests that the Soviet generals spun the intelligence to fit what they thought Stalin wanted or expected to hear, instead of the unvarnished facts.

Another example. I’ll cite Shakespeare for this one, so my dad knows I actually paid attention in some of those college classes he paid for. (Thanks Dad!)

One of my favorite scenes is from Henry V. The night before the Battle of Agincourt, King Henry is looking for that legitimate, ground truth we’re talking about.

So, he disguises himself in a rough cloak and goe…