Adam Grant's Book Recommendations

"Shows how we can become more skilled at making requests and more comfortable with receiving help."

"There’s no one better qualified than a talented journalist to introduce you to the right mindset and skill set [for listening]."

"[The authors] trace how public policies have hurt working-class families and ponder possibilities for change."

"As a journalist whose trade is collecting and sharing stories, [the author] provides the tools to rewrite your own."

"A leading entrepreneur in New Zealand recognized that in many jobs, people can be just as productive — and more creative — working four days a week."

"A powerful case that productivity is not an inherent virtue — if you’re not careful, it can become a vice."

"Full of data-driven guidance for making more accurate assessments of your abilities and opportunities."

"Finding joy at work isn’t magic — it takes work. But it might feel a bit more like play thanks to the practical tips from [the authors]."

"[The author's] relentless quest for self-improvement and social contribution will leave you hungry to do more in your own life."

"The award-winning musician, actor, producer, entrepreneur, and activist opens up about perfectionism, courage, privacy, and identity."

"Shares lessons of experience on building reputations and relationships."

"The Olympic champion reflects on an epic career as the most decorated skier in American history."

"Won’t just help you generate more creative ideas and make smarter decisions — it will teach you to see around corners."

"Now that you have a better handle on solving the problems, it’s time to learn how to prevent them from occurring in the first place."

"If you’ve ever felt like an outsider or an oddball, you’ve experienced the downsides of being weird — but there are surprising upsides as well."

"Might change how you see what you see."

"An engrossing read that’s bursting with actionable insights for thinking differently about problems."

"Explains why the bonds we form aren’t only enjoyable — they’re vital."

"Identifies three different approaches to improving the quality of your connections — expanding, brokering, and convening."

"Combines memorable stories with actionable insights from world-class leaders to help you turn your biggest, boldest ideas into reality."

"On Revisionist History last season, he turned much of what I thought I knew about the end of World War II upside-down. In his first history book, he goes deep into one of the most riveting stories he’d ever told and challenges to reconsider some of our deepest convictions about technology, innovation, and the morality of making sacrifices for the greater good."

"Combining his training in architectural engineering and behavioral science, a University of Virginia scholar pinpoints a gaping hole in our mental math: we’re constantly adding tasks, commitments, and possessions to our lives while neglecting to subtract any. If the defining word of your life is ‘more,’ this book is for you."

"We know a lot about how flawed human reasoning is, but surprisingly little about how to repair it in our daily lives. Thankfully, an expert on applied rationality is here to change that. With insights that are both sharp and actionable, this book will teach you to think more clearly, see yourself more accurately, and be wrong a little less often."

"As the dean of freshmen at Stanford, she rescued students from helicopter parents who were constantly hovering and snowplow parents who prepared the path for their kids instead of preparing their kids for the path. Now, one of America’s wisest thought leaders has given us another gift: she normalizes the struggles of being in our twenties (and thirties… and forties) and offers sage advice for navigating uncertainty, stress, and responsibility."

"A few years ago, I read an article that fundamentally changed the way I think, write, and talk about contentious issues. The star journalist who wrote it has delivered a book that’s even more illuminating. Amanda takes us around the world to understand how people learn to stop demonizing the other side and start agreeing to disagree productively. I think it should be required reading for everyone in politics and the media—and for anyone who’s had a squabble with a colleague or a blowup at a family gathering"

"This is a brilliant, hilarious portrait of the realities of being an adult. IMHO, Matt makes the cleverest charts on Instagram, and his book might be my favorite thing to emerge from the dumpster fire of 2020 that doesn’t rhyme with ‘Maxine’."

"Long before the pandemic forced entire industries to go remote, this Harvard Business School professor was studying how to make remote work work. This is the guide you’ve been waiting for on how to lead, collaborate, stay productive, maintain well-being, and juggle work and life from home."

"Too many workplaces undervalue talented women and people of color while promoting mediocre white men. As a tech exec, entrepreneur, and CEO coach, Kim has zero tolerance for injustice. Her book tackles serious issues with clarity and humor to highlight smart steps that we can all take to combat discrimination and promote fairness."

"Many of our toughest disputes are over ownership—nations go to war over land, businesses and governments clash over digital privacy, and people fight over parking spaces. Two law professors have written a fascinating book about why we claim things as ours and whether you have the right to recline your airplane seat."

"My all-time favorite book on change."

"Examines the causes of loneliness and how we can overcome it by building community and connection."

"A gripping analysis of why we’ve lost the capacity to concentrate, and how we might find it again."

"Delightful."

"The saga of how one of the great founders of our time launched his company, grew it, got it back, and rejuvenated it."

"Does for the soul what water does for a parched throat."

"[This] handbook for decision-making isn’t just evidence-based and practical—it’s fun too."

"One of Silicon Valley’s most outspoken journalists challenges us to recognize that motherhood is a source of strength, not weakness."

"Will transform your understanding of how to gain power—and how to use it for good."

"The founder of the #MeToo movement and the renowned vulnerability researcher have assembled a powerhouse group of Black leaders and thought leaders to explore the dynamics of resilience in the face of shame. This anthology is a moving window into the barriers to vulnerability that Black women and men face—and a stirring call for us all to build structures and cultures that promote physical and psychological safety."