Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
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- Create Date：2021-04-04 11:56:36
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Adam M. Grant
- ISBN：014312885X
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Summary
The #1 New York Times bestseller that examines how people can champion new ideas—and how leaders can fight groupthink， from the author of Give and Take and co-author of Option B
“Reading Originals made me feel like I was seated across from Adam Grant at a dinner party， as one of my favorite thinkers thrilled me with his insights and his wonderfully new take on the world。” —Malcolm Gladwell， author of Outliers and The Tipping Point
“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becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain， battle conformity， and buck outdated traditions。 How can we originate new ideas， policies， and practices without risking it all？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。
“Reading Originals made me feel like I was seated across from Adam Grant at a dinner party， as one of my favorite thinkers thrilled me with his insights and his wonderfully new take on the world。” —Malcolm Gladwell， author of Outliers and The Tipping Point
“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。
Reviews
Carly
，
concise， clear， and actionable insights。
Surya Prakash
，
A thought provoking， innovative ideas and tool's which will enrich the lives of many when applied。 Although I don't agree to some of the ideas in this book because of the limitations of the author in that domain。 The ideas that are brilliant can be realised when it is applied by individuals and corporations。 A thought provoking， innovative ideas and tool's which will enrich the lives of many when applied。 Although I don't agree to some of the ideas in this book because of the limitations of the author in that domain。 The ideas that are brilliant can be realised when it is applied by individuals and corporations。 。。。more
Nubia
，
So refreshing and thought-provoking！
Claire
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I have been interested in Adam Grant since I heard him on a podcast with Malcolm Gladwell。 This was a great book and has changed the way I think about a few things， e。g。 I discovered that I am a 'defensive pessimist' and the part about disagreeable givers also resonated when thinking about my workplace。 Definitely recommend。 I have been interested in Adam Grant since I heard him on a podcast with Malcolm Gladwell。 This was a great book and has changed the way I think about a few things， e。g。 I discovered that I am a 'defensive pessimist' and the part about disagreeable givers also resonated when thinking about my workplace。 Definitely recommend。 。。。more
Larry
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I give this book 3 1/2 stars but I rounded up。 It starts out really good and ends great。 He just lost me in the middle。 Some good stories and some practical advice shared in the last two chapters。 I especially liked the discussion about framing and how approaching scary tasks with vigor is far more productive than approaching with calm。
Karl Erik
，
A brilliant book about how to challenge status quo。 How to change status quo in your own life， in children and in organizations。 It's the kind of book that wants you to think different and want to make the world a better place。 It gives scientific solutions and proof about how to take action and how to come up with more novel ideas。 It's the kind of book you want to read if you are brave enough to think you can change the world - or if you want to be brave enough to change it。 What could have be A brilliant book about how to challenge status quo。 How to change status quo in your own life， in children and in organizations。 It's the kind of book that wants you to think different and want to make the world a better place。 It gives scientific solutions and proof about how to take action and how to come up with more novel ideas。 It's the kind of book you want to read if you are brave enough to think you can change the world - or if you want to be brave enough to change it。 What could have been better is a bit more compelling stories， but all in all， a great book！ 。。。more
Michael
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The stories about the originals were compelling and did the job of setting the tone。 But I more so take away the ideas and strategies for encouraging creativity and original thinking。 The language used with children for example。 The story about conformity being taught indirectly through the "teacher's pet" was an "ah ha" moment。 As a manager， many of the ideas resonated in the context of teams。 Adam's straightforward and easily approachable strategies made this very worthy of my time。 The stories about the originals were compelling and did the job of setting the tone。 But I more so take away the ideas and strategies for encouraging creativity and original thinking。 The language used with children for example。 The story about conformity being taught indirectly through the "teacher's pet" was an "ah ha" moment。 As a manager， many of the ideas resonated in the context of teams。 Adam's straightforward and easily approachable strategies made this very worthy of my time。 。。。more
Ryan Shaffer
，
Wonderful book with great insights。 The book built nicely to the final chapter that really spoke to me。 The guide at the end is very useful summary of the text。 Overall a fun read with many relevant stories to drive home the various points about how to behave differently successfully， and most importantly bring others in alongside you。
Matt "The Bibliognost"
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Grant’s interesting research findings on this topic are counterintuitive， and go against what we would normally assume。 Glad to hear them
Romualdas Isoda
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"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” – Oscar Wilde。 Adam Grant breaks it down how to become original and lead yourself to personal success in his best-seller book "Originals"。3 key takeaways:# Use negatives for your advance。 Highlighting the flaws of your idea can help disarm the audience and get them on your side。 # The Zeigarnik Effect。 Martin Luther King delayed writing and finishing his famous “I had a dream speech” until the day before the march。 Procrastination created on purpose "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” – Oscar Wilde。 Adam Grant breaks it down how to become original and lead yourself to personal success in his best-seller book "Originals"。3 key takeaways:# Use negatives for your advance。 Highlighting the flaws of your idea can help disarm the audience and get them on your side。 # The Zeigarnik Effect。 Martin Luther King delayed writing and finishing his famous “I had a dream speech” until the day before the march。 Procrastination created on purpose and actively managed can help you to come up with deeper and more creative ideas and solutions。 # Creativity leads to mistakes often times。 Great creators do not necessarily have the deepest expertise， but rather they seek out and explore the new horizons。 The most successful originals learn through massive forms of iteration and continual trial and error。#original #disrupt #innovate #pivot #iterate #change #dekonstruoksave 。。。more
Omar Fernández
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This book is filled with practical advice about how to think differently， challenge the status quo， and create the right environment to innovate。 I found it to be remarkably insightful。 Often I would think that I knew what was coming， but Adam Grant would just change the game by revealing some unexpected way to yield better results。 Helpful for those interested in innovation and originality， how to sell those ideas， get the right feedback to improve them， etc。
Patrick
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Well rounded book with several concrete examples。 I appreciated that a few examples traversed from chapter to chapter to show key individuals using multiple traits very well。
Fay Chipo
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This was a worthwhile read that got me thinking。 I appreciate Adam Grant’s way of turning history and numbers into compelling stories that make you want to get up and act。
Ez
，
I’m not sure if this book contains what it says on the tin。 I was expecting thoughts and ideas that would be useful to creative people in all fields， but this book was VERY focused on business。 That is to say， Grant isn’t really concerned with how to generate original ideas or how to shoulder the socio-emotional challenges of being non-conformist。 Rather， he discusses selling and growing slightly unconventional business practices。 Thus， it’s not really about originality per se， as a goal in itse I’m not sure if this book contains what it says on the tin。 I was expecting thoughts and ideas that would be useful to creative people in all fields， but this book was VERY focused on business。 That is to say， Grant isn’t really concerned with how to generate original ideas or how to shoulder the socio-emotional challenges of being non-conformist。 Rather， he discusses selling and growing slightly unconventional business practices。 Thus， it’s not really about originality per se， as a goal in itself; it’s about originality as an instrument， just another mindset for making bigger profit。 I haven’t read many books on business， but it seems to me this could be any one of them。 Also， the Finnish translation was really stiff and full of typos and grammar mistakes。 。。。more
Amanda
，
Not only did this audiobook lead me to purchasing my first pair of Warby Parker glasses， but the lessons along the way were also a plus （and my main goal of listening！）。 Not always starting out first to follow and learn from what others have tried and learned from， sharing an amazing and abstract idea and then connecting it to the concrete， and others were great takeaways。 I might have to get the hard copy so I can actually take time to take proper notes rather than listening while driving！
Lauren
，
Good variety of stories and kinds of people。 Not a straight up management or business book， though obviously it has a fair amount of that。
Priyavasanthan Pandiyan
，
Here are the take aways 1）。 Book starts with a dazzling warby Parker startup。 Originals were risk averse too。 Starting from Billgates to Wozniak to Brian May。 They didn’t quite loose their payroll to the start of new ventures。 2）。 Expertise in other fields， will make you better in your field that you set out to change。 Nobel price winners survey of hobbies where actors and magicians have higher chance of winning it。 Galileo a painter could use his expertise to magnify the image because he knew a Here are the take aways 1）。 Book starts with a dazzling warby Parker startup。 Originals were risk averse too。 Starting from Billgates to Wozniak to Brian May。 They didn’t quite loose their payroll to the start of new ventures。 2）。 Expertise in other fields， will make you better in your field that you set out to change。 Nobel price winners survey of hobbies where actors and magicians have higher chance of winning it。 Galileo a painter could use his expertise to magnify the image because he knew about light better than peers。3）。 Some times procrastination is better， Michael Angelo delaying 2 years of Sistine chapel art。 It keeps the options open than rushing through it 。4）。 When u change conformity resistance is inevitable 。 Perry meridith ultra sound based charger originally dismissed by field expertise ， so was intelipedia。5）。 Lucy stones women’s right movement to change status quo to meaningful contribution to society。 She is the first bachelor degree graduate in US。6）。 Polaroid dismissing Carl’s suggestion of electronics capture。 He went on to make play station successful at Sony。 Not acknowledging the change in the field will doom the company even if it is the mightiest now。“I wake up with a desire to change the world also to enjoy the best out of it ， makes the planning bad“ - E B White。Those are the highlights I liked 。 。。。more
Alli Bittner
，
Moved at a nice pace and contained less “fluff” than most books of this genre。 I enjoyed it！ My favorite part was seeing two of my favorite business school professors - Dr。 Erik Dane and Dr。 Scott Sonenshein - called out by name in reference to some of the cool organizational behavior research they’ve done。
Mandy
，
I learned some interesting things from this book， most valuably about how to be more creative and successful as an innovator。 There is also some time spent in this book about how to create and maintain a culture of innovation at the workplace， making it safer to experiment and fail， and reduce the likelihood of groupthink。 Also he talks about lessons learned from revolutionaries and the women who worked to gain the right to vote。While at times the arguments felt a bit one-sided， I did enjoy some I learned some interesting things from this book， most valuably about how to be more creative and successful as an innovator。 There is also some time spent in this book about how to create and maintain a culture of innovation at the workplace， making it safer to experiment and fail， and reduce the likelihood of groupthink。 Also he talks about lessons learned from revolutionaries and the women who worked to gain the right to vote。While at times the arguments felt a bit one-sided， I did enjoy some of the storytelling journeys， including case studies of some of history’s famous geniuses。 。。。more
Zeliha
，
Çok başarılı tespitler ve araştırmalar doğrultusunda birçok örnek verilerek yazılmış。 Satır satır çizdim ve tespitlere hayran kaldım。 Kitaplığımda aylardır duruyordu， daha önce okumalıymışım diye düşündüm。 Verici insanların nasıl daha başarılı ve tatminkar olabileceğini; etrafımızdaki insanları alıcı， verici ve dengeleyiciler olarak nasıl ayırabileceğimizi açıklayan özenle seçilmiş iş yaşamı ve günlük hayattan örnekler。。
Lukas Slavik
，
Very good book challenging many status quo concepts， backed by scientific research and well written full of fun facts written in an entertaining style
David
，
I am a big fan of Adam Grant。 I learned of his work on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman。 His approach to dealing with people and thought has really and genuinely made me reconsider how I approach relationships and problems in my everyday。 I thoroughly enjoyed Give and Take， and was pushed to reconsider many of my interpersonal and intrapersonal habits。 I enjoyed Originals， but found it more business based and applicable and a little less applicable to me personally as a parent I am a big fan of Adam Grant。 I learned of his work on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman。 His approach to dealing with people and thought has really and genuinely made me reconsider how I approach relationships and problems in my everyday。 I thoroughly enjoyed Give and Take， and was pushed to reconsider many of my interpersonal and intrapersonal habits。 I enjoyed Originals， but found it more business based and applicable and a little less applicable to me personally as a parent and educator。 Though I did appreciate the summaries and action items near the end， and will be heading back through them for reminders l。 I will be diving into Think Again real soon！ 。。。more
Rachel Cheng
，
Skeptical on some points， but have enough good ideas to be worth reading。
Surbhi Dua
，
I was intrigued by ideas and research put forward by Adam Grant after listening to his TED podcast - WorkLife which led me to pick up this interesting piece of work。 It includes fairly decent collection of findings and anecdotes ranging from the ability of Warby Parker’s founders to have managed their risk portfolio to （strategic） procrastination of Martin Luther King Jr。 ‘I have a dream’ speech。 However， this book didn’t quite live up to my expectations。 The numerous takeaway points are loosely I was intrigued by ideas and research put forward by Adam Grant after listening to his TED podcast - WorkLife which led me to pick up this interesting piece of work。 It includes fairly decent collection of findings and anecdotes ranging from the ability of Warby Parker’s founders to have managed their risk portfolio to （strategic） procrastination of Martin Luther King Jr。 ‘I have a dream’ speech。 However， this book didn’t quite live up to my expectations。 The numerous takeaway points are loosely linked and lack logical flow to drive how one can foster creativity and challenge status quo。 。。。more
Awestaa Z
，
I didn't read the entire book but the several chapters that had titles I felt were interesting。 I applaud Grant for writing the book in a way that is understandable and makes sense to the average person。 I enjoyed the anecdotes that then tie into what he's talking about but I found that some of his findings weren't really findings and I was left unconvinced by many of his conclusions。 A lot of his surveying left out a lot of important demographics that make this book and its finding not interest I didn't read the entire book but the several chapters that had titles I felt were interesting。 I applaud Grant for writing the book in a way that is understandable and makes sense to the average person。 I enjoyed the anecdotes that then tie into what he's talking about but I found that some of his findings weren't really findings and I was left unconvinced by many of his conclusions。 A lot of his surveying left out a lot of important demographics that make this book and its finding not interesting to people of color。 Many of the things felt quite obvious and nothing was groundbreaking。 Not the most compelling book but a mediocre read。 The non-conformists he speaks of are not even that radical so that was quite underwhelming。 3/5 because though some disappointing elements， I thought the chapters I read were ok and I did get something from it。 。。。more
Riikka Iivanainen
，
This definitely goes to the top of the list of best non-fiction books I have read on psychology and business。 Instead of extending one idea to cover 250 pages， Adam Grant takes one concept， originality， and covers it from a variety of angles from idea generation to avoiding groupthink。 The book is well-written and the example stories have quite a bit of diversity。 A lot of similar books seem to share stories of original men， but Adam Grant has several stories of original women。I would recommend This definitely goes to the top of the list of best non-fiction books I have read on psychology and business。 Instead of extending one idea to cover 250 pages， Adam Grant takes one concept， originality， and covers it from a variety of angles from idea generation to avoiding groupthink。 The book is well-written and the example stories have quite a bit of diversity。 A lot of similar books seem to share stories of original men， but Adam Grant has several stories of original women。I would recommend this book to people who don't initially think they are that original。 The core argument of the book is that original people are just like anyone else。 They have as much fear， self-doubt and resistance as we do， but they just figure out ways to overcome them。 The book also has many practical tips for people who wish to become more "original"。 。。。more
Robert D
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I have read many management books， but this is certainly one of the best！ The reasoning behind much of the book is extraordinary。 I am also reading Think Again and between the two， believe my attitude towards management and managing will be changed for the much better！
Whit
，
I love business books in theory （some of them）， but in practice， I get about halfway through and just kind of wander away。 I really like this one from the start， but even that didn't prevent the wander。 But this time， I drifted back a few months later and I'm so glad I did， getting through to the end， and I think the last chapter is actually the best， as it brings it all together。 The book is inspiring and provides motivation to inspire others as a leader。 Highly recommend。 I love business books in theory （some of them）， but in practice， I get about halfway through and just kind of wander away。 I really like this one from the start， but even that didn't prevent the wander。 But this time， I drifted back a few months later and I'm so glad I did， getting through to the end， and I think the last chapter is actually the best， as it brings it all together。 The book is inspiring and provides motivation to inspire others as a leader。 Highly recommend。 。。。more
Kristi
，
Adam grant is one of my fav guests on a few podcasts I listen to; I have learned so much from him and he is always insightful。 I liked this book - some very interesting observations， but as it’s one of his older books， I have heard a lot of it in his interviews over the years。 More than anything， I would love to take his classes for a few semesters。
Harley Fricker
，