Originals: How Non-conformists Change the World

by Adam M. Grant

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”1 George Bernard Shaw

Vuja de is the reverse—we face something familiar, but we see it with a fresh perspective that enables us to gain new insights into old problems.

When we become curious about the dissatisfying defaults in our world, we begin to recognize that most of them have social origins: Rules and systems were created by people. And that awareness gives us the courage to contemplate how we can change them.

The drive to succeed and the accompanying fear of failure have held back some of the greatest creators and change agents in history.

“On matters of style, swim with the current,” Thomas Jefferson allegedly advised, but “on matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

if you don’t swing for the fences, it’s impossible to hit a home run.

Conviction in our ideas is dangerous not only because it leaves us vulnerable to false positives, but also because it stops us from generating the requisite variety to reach our creative potential.

Reasoning communicates a message of respect….

It is a mark of esteem for the listener; an indication of faith in his or her ability to comprehend, develop, and improve.

Groupthink is the enemy of originality; people feel pressured to conform to the dominant, default views instead of championing diversity of thought.

no one had the right to hold a critical opinion without speaking up about it,

“The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.”