Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant – Book Summary
Overview: Author, Reception & Critique Adam Grant, Wharton professor and acclaimed organizational psychologist, authored Originals (2016), which became a global
Adam Grant
Adam Grant: Redefining Work, Motivation, and Generosity in the Modern Age
Adam Grant, born on August 13, 1981, in West Bloomfield, Michigan, is an organizational psychologist, author, and professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Known for his pioneering research on motivation, creativity, and pro-social behavior, Grant has become one of the most influential thinkers shaping how individuals and organizations understand success, purpose, and collaboration.
After earning his Ph.D. in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan in 2006, Grant joined Wharton at the age of 28, becoming the school’s youngest tenured professor. His research focuses on why people help others, how leaders can foster creativity, and what makes workplaces both productive and humane. Grant’s data-driven yet humanistic approach bridges psychology, management science, and behavioral economics.
Grant rose to international prominence with his first book, Give and Take (2013), which challenged traditional views of success by arguing that generosity, not self-interest, drives long-term achievement. The book became a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of the year by Amazon and the Financial Times.
He followed with Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World (2016), an exploration of how innovators and change-makers champion new ideas and overcome conformity. In Option B (2017), co-authored with Sheryl Sandberg, Grant examined resilience and post-traumatic growth in the aftermath of personal loss, combining psychological insight with deeply empathetic storytelling. His later work, Think Again (2021), encourages cognitive flexibility — the ability to question one’s own assumptions and embrace intellectual humility — a message that resonated widely in an era of polarization and rapid change.
A TED speaker with talks viewed tens of millions of times, Grant hosts the popular podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant, produced by TED, where he explores the psychology of work through interviews with professionals, scientists, and artists. He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, where he writes about management, leadership, and human potential.
Grant’s impact extends beyond academia: his clients include Google, the Gates Foundation, and the U.S. Army. He has been recognized as one of the world’s ten most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50, and his books have sold millions of copies in over 35 languages.
A former professional magician, Grant often draws on performance, storytelling, and humor to make complex research accessible to broad audiences. His teaching has earned him numerous awards at Wharton, where students have repeatedly named him the top-rated professor.
Grant’s work emphasizes the value of generosity, intellectual curiosity, and empathy in leadership — a vision of success that combines psychological science with moral insight. Through his writing and speaking, he continues to reshape the way people work, lead, and live meaningful lives.