The Art of Less

* SHORTLISTED FOR THE BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS 2026*
Achieve more by doing less...
At work we often feel weighed down by an excess of initiatives, meetings, training and targets. Over-enthusiastic executives, interfering consultants and demanding stakeholders often get in the way of doing the 'real work'. This leaves us feeling overwhelmed but underproductive.
The Art of Less offers ideas for how to create a more effective and efficient organization by removing obstacles to meaningful work. Mats Alvesson and André Spicer explain how 'organizational sludge' gets in the way of performance, and what can be done about it. They show how unblocking systems and processes can improve work flow so people can focus more on the things that actually matter.
The Art of Less is the essential guide to how overburdened managers and employees can break down barriers to more effective working and achieve more by doing less.

Mats Alvesson is professor at University of Bath, City and St George's, University of London and Lund University, Sweden. He is also fellow of British Academy and Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at Technical University in Munich 2023-26. He has written over 30 books.
André Spicer is Professor of Organizational Behaviour and the Executive Dean of Bayes Business School, City and St George's, University of London. He is an expert in the areas of Organizational Behaviour, Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility.

PART ONE: What is Organizational Sludge?
1. Organizational Sludge
2. Types of Sludge
PART TWO: How Does Sludge Work?
3. Sources of Sludge
4. The Sludge Cycle
PART THREE: How can you fight sludge?
5. The Sludge Survival Guide
6. De-Sludging Organizations
7. Unblocking Leadership
8. Institutional Minimalism