Dear community,
I am looking for an introduction book or resource to start understanding the word of business cases. I have read the famous case in point, that I personally found too schematic and dry.
Any other suggestion or, better, dedicated and exhaustive courses with experienced coaches here?
Best,
A
Hi Andrea!
I’ll be blunt. Books like Case in Point were written for a completely different era. They teach you how to sound like a consultant, not how to think like one.
If you want to actually maximize your success chances to break into MBB, you don’t need another schematic framework. You need someone who can dismantle all the nonsense you’ve absorbed from those books and rebuild your thinking from rigorous principles.
Here’s a simple algorithm I recommend to anyone serious about this:
I. Filter for seniority.
Only consider coaches or programs run by people who were senior leaders in MBB, meaning they’ve run projects and interviewed candidates themselves. Associates or Analysts who left after a year or two? Forget it. They’ve never sat on the other side of the table.
II. Filter for proof over time.
Ask for consistent mentee results across multiple years and economic cycles, not just a few lucky offers during a hiring boom. Real experts can show a track record of clients landing McKinsey, BCG, and Bain offers even during so-called “hiring freezes.”
III. Filter for transparency.
Before you invest, ask to speak with 2–3 mentees who recently finished and got their MBB offers in the last month or so. If a coach can’t make that happen, they’re not playing at the level you need.
Whoever is left after you apply those filters will be 100x more valuable than any “consulting prep” book ever written.
Books give you frameworks.
Real experts rewire your brain.
Hope this helps!
Sidi
___________________
Dr. Sidi S. Koné
Former Senior Engagement Manager & Interviewer at McKinsey | Former Senior Consultant at BCG | Co-Founder of The MBB Offer Machine™ (500+ mentees now consultants at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain)
Hi,
Thanks for your question.
1. If you are just getting started and would like to understand how case interviews work and basic frameworks, I find "Case interview Secrets" by Victor Cheng to be a great place to start. It is often recommended as a starting point in B schools.
Outside of that -
1. B school casebooks, if you can get a hold of them, have some good cases. You would have to go through them to find the good ones.
2. I have found some of David Ohrvall's videos useful. I have not read his book but worth giving it a shot.
3. Lastly, for advanced solving skills, Victor Cheng's Look over my shoulder program is good.
4. This book is highly rated in Amazon.com. I have not read it myself but would consider worth checking. It is by a fellow preplounge coach - The 1%: Case Interview Workbook: The Professional’s Playbook for Cracking Every Case.
5. On a separate note, a lot of the consulting firms have practice cases on their websites which are also great resources especially when preparing for a specfic firm.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or in need of some casebooks for practice.
Best,
Soh
Hi,
If you are looking to find out more about the case interview - i think Preplounge has some great free resources actually.
If you are preparing for the interview, you may find the following articles useful:
All the best!
Hey Andrea :)
If Case in Point felt too rigid, try “Crack the Case System” (David Ohrvall), it’s more practical and mindset-focused. Also check consulting club guides from Yale SOM, Wharton, INSEAD, and Kellogg; they’re free online and give great case examples with interviewer notes. If you want a more structured approach, I can help with my 5-session course, where we go through cases, frameworks, math, and brainstorming together - based on your needs!
best,
Alessa :)
Unfortunately, there is no single book that provides a coherent approach to casing or the personal fit component. That's part of what makes the prep journey for most candidates incredibly frustrating.
The candidates that I work with typically go for a 5 session package and as part of this, I provide all the materials they need to get from where they are to being interview ready.
If you want to find out more about it, feel free to drop me a line.
Best,
Cristian
