What is *Originals* by Adam Grant about?

*Originals* explores how individuals can champion novel ideas and drive change by challenging the status quo. Adam Grant examines strategies for nurturing creativity, timing ideas effectively, and balancing risk-taking with practicality. The book debunks myths about innovation, emphasizing that originality isn’t about being first—it’s about making ideas resonate through persistence and calculated action.

Who should read *Originals* by Adam Grant?

Entrepreneurs, leaders, creatives, and anyone seeking to foster innovation will benefit from *Originals*. It’s particularly relevant for those navigating resistance to change, as Grant provides frameworks for persuading skeptics and scaling ideas. The book also appeals to readers interested in psychology, workplace dynamics, and personal growth.

Is *Originals* by Adam Grant worth reading?

Yes—*Originals* is a *New York Times* bestseller praised for its research-backed insights into creativity and leadership. Grant combines academic rigor with engaging storytelling, offering actionable advice for overcoming fear of failure and turning unconventional ideas into impact. It’s been endorsed by thought leaders like Sheryl Sandberg and Malcolm Gladwell.

What are the key lessons from *Originals*?

- Procrastination can be strategic for refining ideas. - Quantity of ideas often leads to breakthrough quality. - Successful “originals” build coalitions to amplify change. - Mitigate risk by testing ideas in small steps first. Grant illustrates these principles with case studies from business, activism, and entertainment.

How does Adam Grant define “original” thinkers?

Grant defines originals as people who identify opportunities for improvement, advocate novel solutions, and take action despite uncertainty. They excel not through innate genius but by rethinking conventions—a mindset he calls “vuja de” (seeing familiar things in fresh ways).

Can you explain the “vuja de” concept from *Originals*?

“Vuja de” describes critically examining routine practices to spot hidden flaws or opportunities. Unlike déjà vu, it involves questioning assumptions—like Pixar’s team reimagining animated storytelling or Sara Blakely challenging lingerie norms with Spanx. Grant argues this mindset separates innovators from conformists.

What strategies does *Originals* suggest for overcoming resistance to new ideas?

- **Storytelling**: Frame ideas as solutions to shared problems. - **Risk mitigation**: Pilot concepts in low-stakes environments. - **Alliances**: Partner with moderate critics to build credibility. Grant cites examples like the Wright brothers’ incremental aviation experiments and Disney’s phased rollout of *Frozen*.

How does *Originals* challenge traditional views on risk-taking?

Grant disputes the “all-or-nothing” myth, showing how innovators like Warby Parker’s founders maintained day jobs while testing their business. He advocates “systems thinking”—reducing risks through diversification (e.g., launching parallel projects) and securing early buy-in from stakeholders.

Originals Summary, PDF, EPUB, Audio

Originals

Adam Grant

3.95 (57073 Reviews)

Psychology Business Entrepreneurship

Aperçu

Points Clés

Auteur

Questions Fréquentes

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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Originality isn't about recklessness but about refusing to accept defaults.

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@SofiaP

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@Jaded_Falcon

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed rassemble une communaute mondiale de plus de 200 000 esprits curieux

Decouvrez comment BeFreed est discute sur le web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Originals

Adam Grant

3.95 (57073 Reviews)

Psychology Business Entrepreneurship

Aperçu

Points Clés

Auteur

Questions Fréquentes

Explorez Votre Façon d'Apprendre

Résumé Rapide9min

Ressentez le livre à travers la voix de l'auteur

Approfondissement42min

Transformez les connaissances en idées captivantes et riches en exemples

Fiches mémo10 idées

Capturez les idées clés en un éclair pour un apprentissage rapide

Fun25min

Profitez du livre de manière ludique et engageante

Meilleure citation de Originals

Originality isn't about recklessness but about refusing to accept defaults.

Dans le même genre

Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and Clayton Christensen

Give and Get Employer Branding

Bryan Adams and Charlotte Marshall

Anatomy of a Breakthrough

Adam Alter

22 sources

The Science of Beating Procrastination

30 sources

The Solomon Paradox: Mastering Practical Worldly Wisdom

Points clés

The Revolutionary Power of Nonconformity

00:00

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

Explorez Votre Façon d'Apprendre

Résumé Rapide

Résumé de Originals en 9 Minutes

Décomposez les idées clés de Originals en points faciles à comprendre pour découvrir comment les équipes innovantes créent, collaborent et grandissent.

00:00

Fiches mémo

Top 10 Idées de Originals en Bref

Condensez Originals en indices de mémoire rapides mettant en évidence les principes clés de franchise, de travail d'équipe et de résilience créative.

Fun

Leçons de Originals Racontées en Histoires de 25 Min

Découvrez Originals à travers des récits vivants qui transforment les leçons d'innovation en moments mémorables et applicables.

00:00

Personnaliser

Découvrez Originals à votre façon.

Posez n'importe quelle question, choisissez la voix et co-créez des idées qui résonnent vraiment avec vous.

Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed rassemble une communaute mondiale de plus de 200 000 esprits curieux

Decouvrez comment BeFreed est discute sur le web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed rassemble une communaute mondiale de plus de 200 000 esprits curieux

Decouvrez comment BeFreed est discute sur le web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

Commencez votre parcours d'apprentissage, maintenant

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Originals by Adam Grant Summary

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Originals by Adam Grant Summary

Overview of Originals

Similar books to Originals

Meilleure citation de Originals

Dans le même genre

Points clés

The Revolutionary Power of Nonconformity

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

Mode Résumé Rapide - Lisez ou écoutez le résumé de Originals en 9 minutes

Mode Fiches mémo - Top 10 Idées de Originals en Bref

Mode Fun - Leçons de Originals Racontées en Histoires de 25 Min

Mode Personnaliser - Lisez ou écoutez le résumé de Originals en 0 minutes

Telecharger Originals PDF

Telecharger Originals EPUB

Dans le même genre

Points clés

The Revolutionary Power of Nonconformity

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