Coming soon · Book Profile
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Originality is a choice, not a fixed trait, and this book reveals the surprising habits and strategic approaches that enable ordinary people to successfully champion novel ideas and challenge the status quo.
A profile of this book is on the way.
What it’s about
Adam Grant's "Originals" dismantles the romanticized myths surrounding creativity and innovation, revealing that the world's most influential non-conformists are not fearless, risk-seeking daredevils but are often cautious, doubt-ridden individuals who manage their risks strategically. Through a compelling blend of surprising research and engaging stories from business, politics, science, and art, Grant provides a practical playbook for recognizing good ideas, speaking up without getting shut down, building coalitions, and overcoming the fear and apathy that stifle progress. This book isn't just for entrepreneurs or artists; it’s a guide for anyone who has ever had a novel idea and hesitated to act, offering actionable insights for parents, leaders, and individuals to nurture originality in themselves and others, and ultimately change their world.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- A thoughtful professional, leader, or parent who has novel ideas for improvement but hesitates to act on them, wanting to make a meaningful impact but feeling constrained by the status quo and their own self-doubt.
- The problem
- They struggle to get their original ideas heard, funded, and implemented, facing resistance, skepticism, and the risk of career or social jeopardy. They feel fearful, full of self-doubt, and frustrated that their potential to make a difference is being stifled. They feel ordinary, not like the 'originals' they admire.
- The plan
- Debunk the myths of originality by understanding the true nature of creative thinkers and change agents.
- Learn the art and science of generating, recognizing, and selecting novel ideas.
- Master the strategies for voicing dissent and championing ideas effectively without being silenced.
- Understand how to strategically time your actions and build powerful coalitions.
- Discover how to manage the difficult emotions that come with challenging the status quo.
- The payoff
- The reader becomes a confident and effective agent of change, capable of advancing their novel ideas to improve their workplaces and communities. · They lead a more meaningful life, fueled by the happiness of pursuit and the impact of their contributions. · They create environments that empower others to be more original.
See our guide
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Additional reading
- Diseases of Workers · Bernardo Ramazzini
Cited as the foundational text of occupational medicine, written in the early 1700s, which describes many occupationally related diseases observed in farm patients that are still recognized today.
- The Triple Bottom Line · Andrew Savitz
Introduces the concept of sustainability resting on three pillars: profit, planet, and people. The book uses this to argue that the 'people' component (human capital/worker health) is often dangerously neglected in agriculture.
- The Omnivore's Dilemma · Michael Pollan
Referenced as an example of popular literature that reflects and advocates for the rising consumer voice and public scrutiny concerning sustainable food systems, which is a major trend impacting modern agriculture.
- Silent Spring · Rachel Carson
Cited as the landmark 1962 book that launched the modern environmental movement and fundamentally shifted public and governmental attention toward the potential harms of pesticides, shaping decades of regulation and risk perception.
- Normal Accidents: Living with High-Risk Technologies · Charles Perrow
The book's theory of 'system accidents' and 'tight coupling' is used by Gonzales to explain how cascading failures, like the Mount Hood climbing disaster, are inevitable features of certain complex systems.
- The Emotional Brain & The Synaptic Self · Joseph LeDoux
LeDoux's neuroscience research on the amygdala's role in fear and memory forms the scientific backbone of Gonzales's argument about how emotion can hijack reason in a crisis.
- The Survivor Personality · Al Siebert
Gonzales cites Siebert's psychological research on the traits of survivors, such as their use of playfulness and humor to stay in contact with reality and manage threats.
- Touching the Void · Joe Simpson
This book provides one of the primary and most detailed case studies Gonzales analyzes to illustrate the psychology of a survivor, including managing pain, using patterns, and the will to live.
- Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea · Steven Callahan
Callahan's story serves as a textbook example of the ideal survivor mindset in action, demonstrating nearly all of the '12 Rules' Gonzales outlines, such as maintaining routine, finding beauty, and surrendering without giving up.
- All Quiet on the Western Front · Erich Maria Remarque
Gonzales quotes Remarque's novel to illustrate the development of instinctual, life-saving secondary emotions in soldiers, a key concept in how experience rewires the brain for survival.