Originals: How Non-conformists Change the World

· Virgin Digital · Narrated by Fred Sanders
4.6
19 reviews
Audiobook
10 hr 1 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook

“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, bestselling author of Lean In


The New York Times bestselling author examines how people can drive creative, moral, and organisational progress—and how leaders can encourage originality in their organisations.

How can we originate new ideas, policies and practices without risking it all? Adam Grant shows how to improve the world by championing novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battling conformity, and bucking outdated traditions.

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. Parents will learn how to nurture originality in children, and leaders will discover how to fight groupthink to build cultures that welcome dissent.

Told through dazzling case studies of people going against the grain, you’ll encounter an entrepreneur who pitches the reasons not to invest, a woman at Apple who challenged Steve Jobs from three levels below, an analyst who challenged secrecy at the CIA, a billionaire financial wizard who fires employees who don’t criticize him, and the TV executive who saved Seinfeld from the cutting room floor. Originals will give you groundbreaking insights about rejecting conformity and how to change the world.

Ratings and reviews

4.6
19 reviews
Simon Guerin
January 15, 2019
The book opens with a set of insights into human behaviour and blows away a lot of previous stereotypes (those reading this on Internet Explorer or Safari browsers might need to take stock and think of moving to a newer one). The deeper look at 'originals' of the past shines a light on how each individual can mould themselves into whatever they want to be. Outside influences can play a large and unconscious (or predetermined) part of this make up however. Insights into things as seemingly random as the order of birth compared to your siblings, and make up of those siblings older than you are particularly interesting. Topics around procrastination, risk taking, emotion control, and idea generation are particularly good. Adam does a brilliant job of digging into the makings of great individuals and identifying how this can translate to the masses. Overall an incredibly interesting read.
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Anil Das
June 17, 2021
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Roda Momin
December 6, 2023
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About the author

Adam Grant (Author)
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at Wharton, where he has been the top-rated professor for seven straight years. His books have sold millions of copies, his TED talks have been viewed more than 30 million times, and he hosts the hit podcast Re:Thinking. His pioneering research on motivation and meaning has enabled people to reach their aspirations and exceed others' expectations. His viral piece on languishing was the most-read New York Times article of 2021 and the most-saved article across platforms. He has been recognized as one of the world's ten most influential management thinkers and Fortune's 40 Under 40, and has received distinguished scientific achievement awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Science Foundation. Grant received his B.A. from Harvard University and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and he is a former Junior Olympic springboard diver. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and their three children.

Sheryl Sandberg (Foreword By)
SHERYL SANDBERG is chief operating officer at Facebook and international best-selling author of Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Prior to Facebook, she was vice president of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google. She previously served as chief of staff for the United States Treasury Department and began her career as an economist with the World Bank. She received B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University. Sandberg serves on the boards of Facebook, The Walt Disney Company, Survey Monkey, ONE, and Women for Women International, and chairs the board of LeanIn.Org.

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