Originals
Adam Grant · 2016
Editorial rating
- Evidence
- 7/10
- Actionability
- 6/10
- Originality
- 7/10
The thesis
Originals - people who champion new ideas and drive change - aren't fearless risk-takers with innate creativity. They're ordinary people who feel the same doubts as everyone else but choose to act anyway, often while hedging their bets and maintaining fallback options.
Who this is for
Employees with ideas they're afraid to voice, managers trying to build cultures that welcome dissent, entrepreneurs wondering whether to quit their day jobs, and parents who want to nurture originality in children without creating reckless contrarians.
My favorite quote
The hallmark of originality is rejecting the default and exploring whether a better option exists.
Why it matters
Most people accept the status quo because it feels fixed and inevitable. Originals recognize that defaults were created by humans and can be changed by humans.
Do this
Identify one "that's just how we do it" rule in your work today and ask: "Who made this rule, and does it still make sense?"
Start here
Successful originals balance their risk portfolios - they take risks in one domain while playing it safe in others. Entrepreneurs who keep their day jobs have 33% lower failure rates than those who quit. The security of a stable income lets them take creative risks without desperation. Stop thinking you need to "burn the boats."
Critical summary
Grant, Wharton's youngest tenured professor, draws on psychology research and case studies to debunk myths about creative success. His central insight: originals aren't born different, they just question defaults more often and produce more output (most of which fails).
The book covers recognizing good ideas, speaking up effectively, building coalitions, managing fear, timing action, and fostering originality in organizations and children. Grant's storytelling is engaging - the Warby Parker founders, Seinfeld's near-cancellation, CIA culture change - and he backs claims with research references.
What it gets right
- Quantity breeds quality: creators who produce more have more hits (Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, 5 are classics)
- Procrastination can fuel creativity by keeping ideas in mental incubation
- First-movers often lose; settlers who learn from pioneers' mistakes frequently win
- "Tempered radicals" who disguise revolutionary ideas as incremental changes get further than overt rebels
What it misses or overstates
- Structure is inconsistent - the book jumps between ideas without a unifying framework
- Could have been a long article; many insights feel padded with anecdotes
- The pop-psychology genre criticism applies: entertaining but light on actionable depth
- Some research cited (like the browser study - Firefox users outperform Internet Explorer users) is correlation without clear causation
- Birth order effects on originality are interesting but limited in practical application
- Focused heavily on business and entrepreneurship; less applicable to artists or creative professionals
The book is best consumed as idea stimulation rather than a systematic program. Grant makes you think, but doesn't give you a step-by-step playbook.
Key concepts
Vuja Dé
The opposite of déjà vu - looking at familiar things with fresh eyes. Practice on your commute: what have you stopped noticing?
The Sarick Effect
Presenting reasons NOT to buy your idea builds credibility. In your next pitch, lead with honest limitations.
Balanced Risk Portfolio
Take creative risks in one area while maintaining stability elsewhere. Don't quit your job to start a company - start while employed.
Tempered Radicalism
Package revolutionary ideas in familiar wrapping. Frame changes as "improvements" to existing values, not rejections of them.
Defensive Pessimism
Anxious people can channel fear productively by imagining worst cases and preparing for them. Separate from optimists who ignore risks.
Idea Selection Problem
We're overconfident about our own ideas. Get peer feedback from people with domain expertise, not just friends.
Core insights
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Quantity is the path to quality
Don't wait for the perfect idea. Generate many ideas; some will be good. Edison had 1,093 patents; most failed.
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Procrastination aids creativity
Starting early and finishing late beats starting late. Let ideas incubate while you work on other things.
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"No" is safer than "maybe"
People saying "no" feel in control and become more open afterward. Seek "no" early in negotiations.
-
Enemies make better allies than frenemies
Someone who openly disagrees but shares your goal is more reliable than lukewarm supporters.
-
First-mover advantage is overrated
47% of first-movers fail vs. 8% of settlers. Being first means making all the mistakes yourself.
Implementation steps
Today
- Write down 10 ideas for improving something at work (quantity over quality exercise)
- Identify one "default" you've never questioned and research alternatives
This week
- Before your next pitch, list 3 reasons someone might NOT support it - address them proactively
- Practice "vuja dé" daily: find one familiar thing you can see differently
This month
- Start a side project while keeping your day job (balanced risk portfolio)
- Share one contrarian opinion in a meeting, framed as building on existing values
Ongoing
- Maintain an idea quota: 10 new ideas per week minimum (accept most will be bad)
- Seek feedback from domain experts, not just supporters
- When you feel resistance to an idea, pause - is it actually bad, or just unfamiliar?
Suggested 30-day practice plan
An editorial application plan created by Monolithic Vault - an interpretation of the book's ideas, not part of the original book.
- Day 1
Complete vuja dé exercise - identify 5 workplace defaults you've stopped questioning
- Day 2
Start idea journal; write 10 ideas (any quality) before bed
- Day 3
Research one default from Day 1; could a better option exist?
- Day 7
Present an idea using the Sarick Effect - lead with limitations, then strengths
- Day 14
Identify a "frenemy" relationship that drains energy; consider deprioritizing vs. open disagreement
- Day 21
Review idea journal - which ideas survived a week of incubation? Develop one further
- Day 30
Pitch your best idea to someone with power to act, using tempered radical framing
Free PDF summary
Take this analysis with you: a designed two-page field-notes sheet with the thesis, my favorite quote, the key concepts and core insights, and the full 30-day checklist. Print it or keep it - free, no signup.
Go deeper
If this analysis earned your attention, the full book goes further than any summary can. The original is always the primary source.
