"The Strategist: Be the Leader Your Business Needs" by Cynthia Montgomery, discusses the crucial role of strategy in business success and how leaders can become effective strategists. Montgomery argues that successful businesses need a clear purpose, a well-defined strategy, and a commitment to continual change and adaptation, exemplified through case studies of IKEA, Gucci, and Apple. Montgomery stresses that effective strategists embrace a deep understanding of their industry, the importance of differentiation, and a willingness to make difficult choices that benefit the long-term health of their company.