Simon Roberts

Simon Roberts is a British business anthropologist, author, and founder of Stripe Partners, a strategic insight consultancy that applies social science methods to business challenges. His book The Power of Not Thinking examines how intuition, embodied knowledge, and unconscious expertise shape human decision-making, challenging the dominant cultural assumption that rational, analytical thinking is always superior. Roberts draws on anthropological research, cognitive science, and case studies from fields including sport, music, craftsmanship, and business to argue that much of what makes humans effective, from a surgeon's diagnostic instinct to an athlete's split-second decisions, relies on forms of knowledge that cannot be fully captured by conscious analysis. His approach is intellectually rigorous while remaining accessible and engaging, making complex ideas from anthropology and cognitive science available to business readers and general audiences. Roberts's background as a practising anthropologist who works with major corporations gives him a practical perspective on how these insights can be applied in organisational settings. The book challenges popular assumptions about rationality and offers a more complete understanding of human intelligence. The Power of Not Thinking is available as an audiobook, offering listeners a thought-provoking, well-researched argument for trusting the wisdom of the body and the unconscious mind alongside analytical reasoning.