Originals
How Non-Conformists Move the World
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4.2 • 288 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
The #1 New York Times bestseller that examines how people can champion new ideas in their careers and everyday life—and how leaders can fight groupthink, from the author of Hidden Potential, Think Again, and the co-author of Option B
“Filled with fresh insights on a broad array of topics that are important to our personal and professional lives.”—The New York Times DealBook
“Originals is one of the most important and captivating books I have ever read, full of surprising and powerful ideas. It will not only change the way you see the world; it might just change the way you live your life. And it could very well inspire you to change your world.” —Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of Lean In
With Give and Take, Adam Grant not only introduced a landmark new paradigm for success but also established himself as one of his generation’s most compelling and provocative thought leaders. In Originals he again addresses the challenge of improving the world, but now from the perspective of becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battle conformity, and buck outdated traditions. How can we originate new ideas, policies, and practices without risking it all?
Using surprising studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports, and entertainment, Grant explores how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt; how parents and teachers can nurture originality in children; and how leaders can build cultures that welcome dissent. Learn from an entrepreneur who pitches his start-ups by highlighting the reasons not to invest, a woman at Apple who challenged Steve Jobs from three levels below, an analyst who overturned the rule of secrecy at the CIA, a billionaire financial wizard who fires employees for failing to criticize him, and a TV executive who didn’t even work in comedy but saved Seinfeld from the cutting-room floor. The payoff is a set of groundbreaking insights about rejecting conformity and improving the status quo.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
You don’t need to be a child prodigy or quit your day job to make your mark—and pessimists, procrastinators, and late bloomers often do better than optimists and early birds. Those are some of the counterintuitive but reassuring messages behind Adam Grant’s Originals. With a breezy, anecdotal style that’s reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell, Grant’s book debunks myths about creative thinking with a mix of scientific research and stories of real-life innovators. Along the way he gives practical and motivational tips for generating, recognizing, and communicating original ideas and successfully challenging the status quo.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wharton professor Grant (Give and Take) considers himself a huge fan of innovation yet, as he confides in this solid business guide, he passed up the opportunity to invest in eyeglass brand Warby Parker in its infancy, the "worst decision" he ever made. He goes on to propose that the trouble with how innovation is currently viewed in contemporary society is that both consumers and investors undervalue anything that is less of a game-changer than the new iPhone. In fact, inventors don't need to be cliff diving risk takers, and originality is far more common than is generally thought. Emphasizing the human tendency to take the default action, the book shows that it takes real verve to overcome that inertia and seek out the better option. Grant's topics include the need for patience while publicizing an idea, the disadvantage of being the first in with a new idea, and the importance of creating and supporting fans and evangelists. He also discusses nurturing originality in young people and avoiding the pitfalls of close-knit corporate cultures. His approach is mainly descriptive, but does include some concrete steps for would-be innovators to develop their ideas, and for business leaders to support them. With a foreword by Sheryl Sandberg, Grant's second book should attract as much attention as his bestselling first.
Customer Reviews
Good ideas but dreadfully boring
I really really wanted to like this book more but it's deadly boring. It's good, it has very good insights and clever ideas but it's deadly boring.
Interesting perspectives, worth the read.
Interesting view points
Well researched and put together
This book was interesting and insightful. It’s very well researched and jam packed with insightful and inspiring stories. Great read. Adam is amazing.