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Give and Take

a Revolutionary Approach to Success
ksoles
Aug 17, 2014ksoles rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 Stars... Although it debates the push and pull of business ethics, "Give and Take" argues, at heart, that nice guys don't always finish last. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant provides an interesting host of testimonial stories on the pros and cons of both "giver" and "taker" personalities, concluding that an intelligent combination of both garners the greatest success. Grant asserts that workplace attitudes tend to fall under the "matcher" variety i.e. “governed by even exchanges of favours.” However, true reciprocal balance proves difficult to achieve in the midst of an array of individual characteristics. "Takers" may efficiently achieve their goals but earn the labels of callous and dominant in the process; "givers," though generally more popular, come across as soft and naive. With case histories of both givers and takers like Kenneth Lay (of Enron infamy), Craig Newmark (of Craigslist), Abraham Lincoln and Frank Lloyd Wright, Grant exposes the underestimation of altruists. Indeed, some play doormats but others enjoy smashing success. Intertwined with these stories, Grant more tediously explores the nuances of business networking and customer-relationship–building. Those who possess entrepreneurial minds may find said explorations fascinating and useful but, for most, these sections seem less relevant to daily life. Grant's final "Actions for Impact" advocate for prosocial behaviour in every aspect of the business world and end the book on a fresh note.