Rebel Talent: Why It Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life

by Francesca Gino Narrated by Tamara Marston

Overview

The world's best chef.

An airline captain who brought his flight to safety in a daring water landing.

A magician known for his sensational escape acts.

A computer scientist who founded a world-renowned animation studio.

What do all of these people have in common? They love their jobs, they break the rules, and the world is better off for it. They are rebels.

From an early age, we are taught to be rule followers, and the pressure to fit in only increases as we age. But conformity comes at a steep price for our careers and personal lives. When we mindlessly accept rules and norms rather than questioning and constructively rebelling against them, we ultimately end up stuck and unfulfilled. As leaders, we are less effective and respected. As employees, we are more likely to be overlooked for top assignments and promotions. As partners and friends, we are checked out and unhappy.

Francesca Gino has been studying rebels in life and in the workplace for more than 15 years. She has discovered that rebels-those who practice “positive deviance” at work-- are harder to manage, but they are good for the bottom line: their passion, drive, curiosity, and creativity raise the entire organization to a new level. And she has found that at home, rebels are more engaged partners, parents, and friends.

Packed with strategies for embracing rebellion at work and in life, and illuminating case studies ranging from the world of fine dining to fast food chains to corporations such as Google and Pixar, Rebel Talent encourages all of us to rebel against what's comfortable, so that we can thrive.

Editorial Reviews

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile

A Harvard business professor and creative researcher explains the benefits of resisting cultural expectations in all realms of life. Narrator Tamara Marston has a satisfying vocal timbre, but her narration doesn’t capture the nuance and personality in the author’s colorful stories. Though her phrasing is true to meaning, her repetitive pitch patterns make her performance sound overly serious. Francesca Gino has the keen observational skills of an artist. She articulates dynamics in culture and context that influence us for better or worse, and has a good eye for details in the social and psychological landscape. In addition to sharing many enlightening field studies, Professor Gino is privy to the inside stories of some prominent leaders and companies. This access gives her insights an air of celebrity, so the audio entertains as well as emboldens. T.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

03/26/2018
From Harvard Business School professor Gino comes an entertaining but overly familiar exploration of the link between fearlessness and innovation. She begins by observing that people are socialized to be rule followers, yet major inventions and innovations almost always come from ignoring prescribed rules. She goes on to propose that strict adherence to a set of rules only stifles creativity and forward-thinking on the job, leading to employee dissatisfaction. Gino presents the stories of people—Napoleon, Houdini, Captain Sullenberger—unafraid to break rules holding them back, and open to questioning their own assumptions and norms, both in the workplace and out of it. Sharing recollections of her meetings with rebels around the world, from a three-star restaurant in Modena, Italy, to call centers in rural India, Gino draws conclusions on how rule-breaking can help, rather than hurt. While energetic and fun to read, the highly narrative approach to well-traveled ground—noticeably lacking in actionable advice for the reader—make this unlikely to stand out in the crowded business advice field. Agent: Max Brockman, Brockman Inc. (May)

From the Publisher

Energetic and fun to read.” — Publishers Weekly

“Readers can take heart in the search for a company that believes in and practices the power of rebellion.” — Booklist

“Entertaining and well written, in addition to being informative, this career self-help book won’t put you to sleep and might actually help you out of a rut. Recommended for business and career collections. — Library Journal

“In this groundbreaking book, Francesca Gino shows us how to spark creativity, excel at work, and become happier: By learning to rebel.”   — Charles Duhigg, New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better

“Francesca Gino is one of the world’s most productive and creative social scientists. And with this book, she shows that she’s also one of the most persuasive. She makes a powerful and convincing case that letting loose our inner troublemaker can open up new vistas of creativity and problem-solving power.” — Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of Drive

“Great stories, great science, and great practical advice about how, when, and why to break the rules.” — Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

“This marvelous and mischievous masterpiece shows us how to creatively rebel without getting into (too much) trouble. Francesca Gino’s splendid weave of stories and studies unpacks why, when, and how to break the rules in order to do more successful, challenging, and original work.”  — Robert Sutton, New York Times bestselling author of The Asshole Survival Guide, Scaling Up Excellence, and Weird Ideas That Work

“Francesca has a very personal and self-aware approach to bridging the gap between the social norms that glue us together, and the acts of challenging those norms. The rebellious approach has led to great advances, and it also has led to abuse. She pushes us to allow for people who challenge what we do, but with a grounding in thinking about the use of power and status in our businesses and in our lives.” — Ed Catmull, President of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios

“Francesca Gino is the best kind of rebel: the one who doesn’t just break the rules, but invents a better way. In this enthralling, carefully researched book, she shows you how to become one—and unleash the inner rebel in others too.” — Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals, Give and Take, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg

“‘To make an omelet, you gotta break some eggs’ is easy advice to give. Much more difficult is crafting a clear recipe—which eggs, when, how, blended with what?—for greatest success at it. Yet, this is precisely what Rebel Talent does for the process of breaking the rules optimally. As a result, I just ate it up.” — Robert B. Cialdini, New York Times bestselling author of Influence and Pre-Suasion

Booklist

Readers can take heart in the search for a company that believes in and practices the power of rebellion.

Charles Duhigg

In this groundbreaking book, Francesca Gino shows us how to spark creativity, excel at work, and become happier: By learning to rebel.”  

Robert B. Cialdini

‘To make an omelet, you gotta break some eggs’ is easy advice to give. Much more difficult is crafting a clear recipe—which eggs, when, how, blended with what?—for greatest success at it. Yet, this is precisely what Rebel Talent does for the process of breaking the rules optimally. As a result, I just ate it up.

Ed Catmull

Francesca has a very personal and self-aware approach to bridging the gap between the social norms that glue us together, and the acts of challenging those norms. The rebellious approach has led to great advances, and it also has led to abuse. She pushes us to allow for people who challenge what we do, but with a grounding in thinking about the use of power and status in our businesses and in our lives.

Robert Sutton

This marvelous and mischievous masterpiece shows us how to creatively rebel without getting into (too much) trouble. Francesca Gino’s splendid weave of stories and studies unpacks why, when, and how to break the rules in order to do more successful, challenging, and original work.” 

Angela Duckworth

Great stories, great science, and great practical advice about how, when, and why to break the rules.

Adam Grant

Francesca Gino is the best kind of rebel: the one who doesn’t just break the rules, but invents a better way. In this enthralling, carefully researched book, she shows you how to become one—and unleash the inner rebel in others too.

Daniel H. Pink

Francesca Gino is one of the world’s most productive and creative social scientists. And with this book, she shows that she’s also one of the most persuasive. She makes a powerful and convincing case that letting loose our inner troublemaker can open up new vistas of creativity and problem-solving power.

Booklist

Readers can take heart in the search for a company that believes in and practices the power of rebellion.

Susan Cain

In Rebel Talent, through illuminating examples and case studies, Francesca Gino demonstrates the true power of the rebel. Rebellion, as she defines it, isn’t simply about rule-breaking–it’s about allowing your best self, and your talents, to shine through in all aspects of your work and your life.

Chip Heath

Francesca Gino is one of the smartest and most insightful decision researchers in the field. Her clever research informs every page of this book and it will change the way you think about decision making.

Dan Ariely

Praise for Francesca Gino’s Sidetracked:
“We are often unaware of the many forces that affect our decisions-sometimes with devastating consequences. In Sidetracked, Francesca Gino identifies and illuminates many of these forces to help us all make decisions that we, our mothers, and our kids will be happier with.

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile

A Harvard business professor and creative researcher explains the benefits of resisting cultural expectations in all realms of life. Narrator Tamara Marston has a satisfying vocal timbre, but her narration doesn’t capture the nuance and personality in the author’s colorful stories. Though her phrasing is true to meaning, her repetitive pitch patterns make her performance sound overly serious. Francesca Gino has the keen observational skills of an artist. She articulates dynamics in culture and context that influence us for better or worse, and has a good eye for details in the social and psychological landscape. In addition to sharing many enlightening field studies, Professor Gino is privy to the inside stories of some prominent leaders and companies. This access gives her insights an air of celebrity, so the audio entertains as well as emboldens. T.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170355075
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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