The Opposite Is Also True

Since the beginning of time, scientists have tried to discover and describe patterns, to give us an insight into how things work - by way of laws, principles or paradoxes. We learn some of these laws at school, but most people fail to notice many patterns that you should recognize as a manager, politician or simply as a person in order to live your life well, do your work effectively, run your business successfully or make policy that does the job.

The Opposite Is Also True describes 81 ideas framed as scientific laws. Ranging from Alexander the Great to Schrödinger, but also including lesser-known names such as Wright, Donella Meadows, Merton, Grice, and, of course, Kemeling's personal favorites Turing and Wittgenstein. About 700 words per thinker give you a feel for their work, but most of all a guiding principle that offers fresh and sometimes surprising insights.

Ebel Kemeling spent around 40 years reading and searching, enabling him to bundle the ideas in this book. The fact that he didn't exactly do that in a focused way is an advantage here, and fitting for a man of many trades: philosopher, strategy consultant, entrepreneur in the energy transition, and columnist. He has also sat on a school board, financed a film and owned a beach bar. He is not a scientist, but he has an insatiable curiosity about pretty much everything. Maybe with a slight leaning towards literature, analytical philosophy and math, but his interests are broad and he makes everything simple without dumbing it down. So if he can understand it, you can too.