Originals by Adam Grant Summary
Overview of Originals
Discover why original thinkers succeed in "Originals" - Adam Grant's #1 NYT bestseller that captivated Sheryl Sandberg and Richard Branson. Challenging conventional wisdom with counterintuitive insights, it reveals why the most innovative minds often procrastinate and doubt themselves.
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Key takeaways
The Revolutionary Power of Nonconformity
What if everything we believe about successful innovators is wrong? The most impactful originals aren't fearless risk-takers who bet everything on their vision. They're calculated strategists who hedge their bets. The founders of Warby Parker kept their day jobs while revolutionizing the eyewear industry. Phil Knight sold shoes from his trunk while working as an accountant before Nike became iconic. Sara Blakely invested just $5,000 in creating Spanx while maintaining her fax machine sales job for two years. Even Bill Gates took a formal leave of absence from Harvard with his parents' financial backing. The most successful originals manage risk like a diversified portfolio-taking extreme chances in one domain while remaining extraordinarily cautious in others. Research consistently shows entrepreneurs aren't risk-lovers but calculated decision-makers who prefer ventures with higher probability of success over potentially larger but riskier payoffs. What truly distinguishes originals is their refusal to accept defaults. Most people live in what researchers call an "Internet Explorer world," accepting whatever comes pre-installed in their lives. A fascinating study revealed that customer service employees who used Firefox or Chrome stayed in their jobs 15% longer and performed better than those using pre-installed browsers. This wasn't about technical skill but initiative-they had downloaded these browsers rather than accepting defaults, reflecting their approach to life. Originality begins with curiosity-experiencing what Grant calls "vuja de," seeing familiar situations with fresh perspective, as Warby Parker's founders did when questioning why glasses cost more than smartphones. By challenging assumptions rather than accepting them, anyone can begin the journey toward meaningful innovation.
The Volume Strategy: Generating Breakthrough Ideas
Strategic Procrastination: The Incubation Advantage
Speaking Truth to Power: The Art of Influence
Building Coalitions: The Goldilocks Principle
Creating Cultures of Productive Dissent
The Courage to Create Change
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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