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Two books that argue with each other · Vic Morgan & Zia Karim

Productivity became a religion.
The last 20% became the only thing that matters.

Two short, precise books on work after AI — what the optimisation cult extracted from us, and where value has quietly relocated. Read them in either order.

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Paperback $17.99 · Ebook $9.99 · Shipped worldwide

Early praise

"A scalpel taken to the gospel of optimisation. Necessary, and uncomfortably accurate."
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"The clearest articulation I've read of why the old 80/20 advice no longer works."
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"Two short books I'll be quoting at people for years."
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The Optimisation Cult book cover

Book One

The Optimisation Cult

How AI Turned Productivity into a Religion — and How to Leave It

Start here if you've ever felt productivity-shamed.

A post-mortem on the productivity faith. We built dashboards for our days, gospels for our mornings, and metrics for our meaning. Then AI arrived and performed the devotion for us. This book is the door out.

"If a practice makes you more productive but less alive, it's not a practice. It's a transaction."
Buy on Amazon Ships worldwide · 3 business days
80–20 Is 20–80 book cover

Book Two

80–20 Is 20–80

Why the Last 20% Is the Entire Game

Start here if you ship things — and want them to count.

The original Pareto rule told a generation where to aim. It no longer holds. Tools rendered the first 80% abundant, assumed, unremarkable. All the reward, all the trust, all the differentiation has collapsed into the final 20%: judgment, standards, and the willingness to finish.

"Edit yourself harder than anyone expects. Make fewer things. Finish them properly."
Buy on Amazon Ships worldwide · 3 business days

Who wrote this

Vic Morgan & Zia Karim

VM

Vic Morgan

Founder/CEO, Venture Stream · Harvard MBA

Three decades building the systems he now dissects — strategy decks, OKR cycles, optimisation programmes across US and UK companies. Came out with a quieter argument about what they cost.

ZK

Zia Karim

Executive AI & technology leader · Goldman Sachs

26+ years across regulated enterprise and FinTech, where product, technology, AI, and execution must become one system. Writes about the narrow minority of decisions that carry all the weight.

FAQ

Before you buy.

When do orders ship?+

Direct orders ship within 3 business days. International delivery is typically 7–14 business days.

Is there an ebook or audiobook?+

Yes — both books are available as ebook (EPUB + PDF, delivered by email) and paperback. Kindle and Apple Books editions follow shortly; audiobook is in production for early 2027.

Are prices in my currency?+

Checkout is processed in USD. Use the currency switcher in the header to see approximate prices in GBP or EUR — your card issuer applies the actual exchange rate at the time of purchase.

What's the refund policy?+

Unopened books can be returned within 30 days for a full refund. Books are non-returnable unless damaged in transit.

Should I read one first?+

They're designed to be read in either order — they argue with each other on purpose. Start with The Optimisation Cult if you want the diagnosis, 80–20 Is 20–80 if you want the prescription.

Order direct from us — paperback shipped internationally, ebook delivered by email.

The Optimisation Cult

$17.99
Amazon Paperback · Ships worldwide

80–20 Is 20–80

$17.99
Amazon Paperback · Ships worldwide
Save $6.99 when you buy both. Both paperbacks for $29.99, shipped together.

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