Archive · 28 Jul 2025
Bezos' Memo Method: Silent Reading Before Amazon Meetings
Imagine Amazon meetings starting with a 30-minute silent reading of a memo instead of presentations.
That's what Jeff Bezos does.
He swapped slideshows for detailed memos to encourage deeper thought and preparation.
This forces everyone to explain ideas clearly, helping meetings be more productive and informed.
It values preparation over fast-paced presentations, which can make for more thoughtful discussions.
Jeff Bezos replaced PowerPoint presentations with memos in Amazon meetings since 2004.
Meetings start with 30 minutes of silent reading of the memo.
Bezos believes memos promote deeper thinking, truth-seeking, and more thoughtful conversation.
Writing in complete sentences forces clearer thinking and structured arguments.
Organizational psychologist Gurleen Baruah supports this approach, suggesting it improves meeting quality.
- Who
- Jeff Bezos and Amazon employees.
- What
- Jeff Bezos has people read memos in silence for 30 minutes before Amazon meetings.
- When
- Since 2004.
- Where
- Amazon meetings.
- Why
- To promote deeper thinking and more thoughtful conversations.
Traditional Meetings
Bezos' Memo-Based Meetings
Preparation
Traditional Meetings
Meetings often rely on slides and bullet points.
Bezos' Memo-Based Meetings
Meetings involve preparation with detailed memos.
Focus
Traditional Meetings
Focus on presentation and persuasion.
Bezos' Memo-Based Meetings
Emphasis on clarity of thought and intellectual honesty.
- Meeting Format
- Silent reading of memos
- Duration
- 30 minutes
- Presentation Type
- Memos with narrative structure
- Purpose
- Encourage thoughtful discussion and preparation
- Benefit
- Improves dialogue and decision-making
- Expert Opinion
- Gurleen Baruah, organizational psychologist, supports the approach