This is a summary review of Start at the End containing key details about the book.

What is Start at the End About?

“Start at the End” by Dave Lavinsky offers a step-by-step guide for creating a successful business plan. (Full Summary…)

Start at the End Summary Review

“Start at the End” by Matt Wallaert is a thought-provoking exploration of behavioral science applied to product design. Wallaert, a technology executive and behavioral scientist, provides a compelling framework that challenges the traditional approach to creating products and services in modern companies. The book advocates for a shift from a process-driven mindset to an outcome-focused one, grounded in behavioral science principles.

Wallaert begins by highlighting the common scenario in companies where ideas are generated based on their appeal and then scaled without considering their effectiveness or impact on behavior. He draws a parallel to the popular TV series Mad Men, emphasizing the overspending on marketing to promote products and services that may not align with the actual needs and desires of the consumers.

The core argument of the book centers around the idea that the purpose of everything in business is behavior change. Wallaert contends that by starting with the desired outcomes rather than fixating on processes, companies can better understand what people want to do and why they aren’t already doing it. This understanding becomes the foundation for building products and services that bridge the gap between current behavior and the desired behavior.

Wallaert, a behavioral psychologist with experience leading product design in various organizations, illustrates his points with a blend of clarity and humor. From dissecting the success of Uber’s ridesharing service to examining the allure of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, he demonstrates how applying behavioral science can positively impact the way people work and live.

The book serves as an essential roadmap for those involved in product design, offering practical insights on building products that truly matter and contribute to positive behavior change. Wallaert’s emphasis on real-world examples, drawn from his experiences working on well-known products, makes the principles more accessible and applicable. The focus on learning from both mistakes and successes adds a valuable dimension to the book.

While the text in the review does not provide specific ratings, it is evident that “Start at the End” resonates with readers, as seen in the customer reviews. The positive sentiments expressed in the reviews highlight the book’s clear and well-systematized presentation, its real-world applicability, and the author’s valuable experience shared throughout.

Essentially, “Start at the End” offers a fresh perspective on product design, challenging conventional norms and encouraging a shift towards outcome-oriented practices. Matt Wallaert’s combination of behavioral science expertise and practical experience makes this book a compelling read for anyone involved in the creation of products or services, providing valuable insights to shape behavior for the better.

Who is the author of Start at the End?

Matt Wallaert applies behavioral science to practical problems, from startup exits to the Fortune 500 to an array of prosocial side projects. As one of the first behavioral scientists to leave academia and work in industry, he’s given hundreds of talks on the science of behavior change at the UN, SXSW, and beyond.

How long is Start at the End?

• Print length: 256 pages

What genre is Start at the End?

Business, Design, Nonfiction

What are good quotes from Start at the End?

“That’s because, in general, better intervention design happens when you have as many potential insights as possible at the beginning of the process—a big, wide funnel of opportunities for behavior change that slowly gets narrower as we hone in on pressures we’re able to successfully design interventions around. The more insights we have to start with and the faster and more thoroughly we can validate them, the more interventions we can design. Designing more interventions means running more pilots, and when we thoroughly and swiftly validate those, we get more Cheeto flavors that keep bringing us closer to the Utopian Universe, one snack at a time.”