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Originals

By: Adam Grant, Sheryl Sandberg - foreword
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
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Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling 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to improve the world by championing novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battling conformity and bucking outdated traditions.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.

©2016 Adam Grant (P)2016 Random House AudioBooks

Critic Reviews

" 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, best-selling author of Lean In)

What listeners say about Originals

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  • Bo
  • 02-03-2019

not for conformists

a great book that gives some insights into thinking differently. for those that aren't afraid to go against the status quo and try something new. shows some great case studies for how to think and do different.

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2 people found this helpful

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Interesting read

I started this book as a sceptic. So many books these days espouse the virtues that we are all 'special'.

I was refreshed to read the author's pragmatic approach to bring a 'practised' rather than a 'born' original.

Great read

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Ty
  • 28-02-2024

Clear ideas and connections

This was clearly well researched. The ideas and connections were made clearly with relevant stories to prove and enhance the ability to remember. Well done. Worth a read.

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    4 out of 5 stars

All the reasons that drive & suffocate Originals

This book really highlighted the ‘sheeple’ syndrome of how much of humanity lives in default mode, and gives case study after case study to showcase this. One example that shocked me was research done with people falling in the low income bracket viewing economic inequality as necessary, with the book highlighting that ‘people that suffer most of affairs are paradoxically the least likely to question, challenge, reject or change it’.

As someone who has high hopes of wanting to change the world with the gifts I’ve been blessed with, I wanted to understand why some ideas didn’t take root in target audiences and social causes, where I would have thought the end users would be happy with progressive and innovative change.

This book deep dives into macro system conditioning, and how the human psyche has developed within that matrix. It really highlights some disturbing truths that I never considered before, such as teachers labelling highly creative students as troublemakers, because they do not comply with the structured education system.

This is a great book to understand the mindset of entrepreneurs and creatives, and how the best thinkers and innovators are not risk maximisers, but instead take the risk out of risk taking, because they understand calculated risks with being original and bringing something new to market. It is really a very holistic way to look at being original, navigating that development in the society we live in, and also reinforcing the message that it's normal and ok to face rejection and failure, with having and being an original creative person. It gives you the tools and context to be forgiving of sheeple, systems and also your own inner voice.

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Inspiring!

Packed with insight from CEOs, to behaviousal scientists and revolutionaries. A game changer if you're the kind of person who wants to create an I pact on your life, workplace, relationships or family. Unexpectedly good!

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worthwhile

this is insightfull and well researched. definitely worth the read to expand your own horizons

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startet out good, but...

i did like the voice of the reader, but suddenly the book changed, i was like being back in school. not my type of book. but i guess lots of people will like it.

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great book great read

challenging in its own way. validating in some points. very interesting and intriguing research and its outcomes. definitely top book for me this year and something I'm already implementing with my day to day approach

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Intriguing.

Intriguing, fascinating, eye opening.
For those of us that love the world and want to help. For the rest of you, pray that we are out there,.... somewhere...!

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    4 out of 5 stars

Some wonderful concepts and interesting examples but...

For non-Americans, some of the examples were a little long-winded and non relevant. The key is to grasp the concepts of how to be original and how to inspire creativity rather than the context in given.

Overall, the book has was well researched and provided great learning potential for people of ages.

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