A groundbreaking look at why our interactions with others hold the key to success, from the bestselling author ofOriginals
For generations, we have focused on the individual drivers of success: passion, hard work, talent, and luck. But in today’s dramatically reconfigured world, success is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others. In Give and Take, Adam Grant, an award-winning researcher and Wharton’s highest-rated professor, examines the surprising forces that shape why some people rise to the top of the success ladder while others sink to the bottom. Praised by social scientists, business theorists, and corporate leaders, Give and Take opens up an approach to work, interactions, and productivity that is nothing short of revolutionary.
J. F. Malcolm (verified owner) –
Although 2013 is still young, I predict that Give and Take, by Wharton professor Adam Grant, has a great chance of being the best book I’ve read all year, for three reasons: it’s inspirational, it’s instructional, and it’s solidly research-based.
The premise of the book is quite simple: the world comprises three types of people: givers, takers and matchers. Which type tends to be most successful? Although we’ve all been raised on the homily that it’s better to give than to receive, the bad news is that the left side of most bell curves is populated by givers, those who contribute more to others than they expect in return. Quite simply, they do less for themselves, people take advantage of them, and they are prone to burnout.
Srikumar S. Rao (verified owner) –
This book talks about `givers’, `takers’ and `matchers’. Givers are rare and they help others instinctively, frequently at cost to themselves. Their open-handed generosity makes the world better. Takers tilt the reciprocity balance toward themselves and put their own interest above that of everyone else. Matchers try to balance giving and taking and expect direct reciprocity when they help others.
Now, in a competitive world takers should rise to the top, right? Givers are so busy helping others that their own work suffers. And, indeed, many surveys find that those at the bottom of the heap have higher `giving’ scores than those above them who tend to be takers and matchers.
George (verified owner) –
I liked the numerous examples in this book. However, it was sometimes confusing and seemed contradictory, usually when some of the examples of Givers are first introduced as clear takers in the beginning. This book served as a good encouragement to practice giving and I liked the action steps at the end of the book. It provides simple ways for Givers to come out and practice giving with confidence. For takers and matchers, I think this book can help them identify the tiny bit of Giver attitude in them and help them know that Giving is not a weakness.
customer (verified owner) –
This is a must read book. It will really change your perspective regarding people.