Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant book cover

Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

by Adam Grant · 2017

Adam Grant's take on business, the honest verdict is below.

Worth reading? Adam Grant makes the case that original thinkers aren't crazy risk-takers, they're calculated procrastinators who voice ideas anyway. Read it if you have ideas you keep sitting on. Skip it if you want a step-by-step startup manual, this is a research-studded argument, not a playbook.

AuthorAdam Grant
Published2017
CategoryBusiness & Money

ASIN: 014312885X

The Verdict

Adam Grant makes the case that original thinkers aren’t crazy risk-takers, they’re calculated procrastinators who voice ideas anyway. Read it if you have ideas you keep sitting on. Skip it if you want a step-by-step startup manual, this is a research-studded argument, not a playbook.

Read it if

anyone weighing whether Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World belongs on their business and money shelf

Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant: book review and summary

Top 8 Lessons from Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

  1. Originals aren't more reckless; they're better at managing risk than the rest.
  2. Procrastination can help, delaying commitment lets ideas improve.
  3. Weak ties (loose contacts) spread novel ideas farther than close friends.
  4. Kids with lots of quirky ideas, not always right ones, become more original adults.
  5. Speak up by framing your idea as a suggestion, not a threat, to avoid backlash.
  6. Quantify the downside so fear of failure stops running the show.
  7. Build a portfolio of bets; don't stake everything on one 'safe' move.
  8. Groups kill originality when dissent gets punished, protect the critic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Originals worth reading?

Yes if you generate ideas but struggle to act or voice them. It's evidence-based and readable.

What is the main idea of Originals?

Non-conformists move the world by managing risk and speaking up, not by being reckless geniuses.

Who should read Originals?

Creatives, entrepreneurs, and employees with better ideas than their courage allows.

Is Originals a how-to book?

It's more a convincing argument with studies than a checklist. Take the mindset, build your own system.