Originals by Adam Grant

2023-08-12 2 min read Sincheenz

Adam Grant’s books are not your typical self-help guides. I’m often turned off by authors who insist on prescribing perfect habits and practices to become great, awesome, or the best. When I picked up “Originals,” I initially expected it to be another one of those “do this to get that” books.

I had made a decision in 2021, to be more open-minded about selfhelp books and not be overly judgmental. I’ve come to realize that there’s always something to learn or rediscover in any book. Sometimes, the most obvious ideas need repeating, as we tend to overlook them, and a reminder can be quite beneficial.

“Originals” focuses on how individuals can generate new ideas that have a meaningful impact and contribute to making a difference. The book is divided into three parts: individual actions, leadership actions, and parental actions. What resonated with were 2 points. One of them was the idea of motivating yourself differently when you’re committed versus when you’re uncertain. Another interesting concept was not trying to calm down but instead getting excited during anxiety.

I also appreciated the idea of picturing yourself as your own enemy and encouraging your team to discuss how your company could potentially fail. However, many of the other points felt like repetitions or were quite obvious to me.

Overall, “Originals” is a worthwhile read, especially if it’s your first time delving into this genre of books. For those more experienced in this area, it’s just okay.