There has been a recent boom in management books with animals in the title. From Riding a Giraffe to the Ape in The Corner Office to The Spider's Strategy, the animal kingdom seems to be the major source of metaphor for management writers. Now comes Henry Mintzberg and colleagues, and they too want to take us on a Strategy Safari. It's no surprise that the book opens with the famous poem about the blind men and the elephant (each feels a different part and reaches a different conclusion as to what the elephant looks like as a result).

Notwithstanding all the animals, Mintzberg is one of the best guides for an analysis of strategy and this book is the perfect starting point for someone interested in understanding more about it.

Strategy Safari neatly and coherently explains the major approaches to strategy-making, highlighting the essentials of each method as well as their strengths and weaknesses. It may not be as much fun as a real safari, but it serves its purpose well.