Originals

What originality looks like when it has to deliver

Reason to read: A clear, research-driven guide to making unconventional ideas survive contact with reality. Useful if you build products, lead teams, or want to get better at picking which ideas deserve your time.

Grant starts by puncturing the myth that originals are fearless iconoclasts. The pattern he shows is more measured. People who change things often hedge their risk, keep a safety net, and ship only after testing whether the idea is any good. The book mixes rigorous studies with concrete stories to show why timing, persistence, and coalition building matter more than bravado.

The most practical thread is idea selection. Creators are usually poor judges of their own work, so you need peers who will be candid and a process that exposes weak ideas quickly. Challenging defaults is a second theme. People who question the standard option build initiative and spot leverage others miss. There is also a counterintuitive case for strategic procrastination. Giving an idea breathing room can improve originality, provided you keep momentum.

For leaders, the playbook is cultural. Make dissent safe and real, not theatre. Encourage honest debate, invite people to name the weaknesses of a proposal first, then improve it. Teach teams to separate taste from evidence and to back arguments with tests. The result is a place where unusual bets can earn credibility instead of dying in committee.

Verdict: A steady, useful manual for anyone who wants to champion better ideas without burning the house down.