Summary of The Starfish and the Spider

The Starfish and the Spider is a book by Ori Brafman and Rod A. Beckstrom that explores the power of decentralized organizations. It uses the metaphor of a starfish and a spider to explain the differences between decentralized and centralized organizations. The starfish is a decentralized organism that can survive with parts being removed, while the spider is a centralized organism that cannot survive when its head is removed. The authors argue that decentralized organizations are more resilient and can better adapt to rapidly changing environments than centralized organizations. They use examples from business, politics, and technology to illustrate the power of decentralization. The book also examines how decentralized organizations are poised to take advantage of the modern world's new tools and technologies.