Hidden Potential

#1 New York Times Bestseller“This brilliant book will shatter your assumptions about what it takes to improve and succeed. I wish I could go back in time and gift it to my younger self. It would’ve helped me find a more joyful path to progress.” —Serena Williams, 23-time Grand Slam singles tennis championThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again illuminates how we can elevate ourselves and others to unexpected heights.We live in a world that’s obsessed with talent. We celebrate gifted students in school, natural athletes in sports, and child prodigies in music. But admiring people who start out with innate advantages leads us to overlook the distance we ourselves can travel. We underestimate the range of skills that we can learn and how good we can become. We can all improve at improving. And when opportunity doesn’t knock, there are ways to build a door.Hidden Potential offers a new framework for raising aspirations and exceeding expectations. Adam Grant weaves together groundbreaking evidence, surprising insights, and vivid storytelling that takes us from the classroom to the boardroom, the playground to the Olympics, and underground to outer space. He shows that progress depends less on how hard you work than how well you learn. Growth is not about the genius you possess—it’s about the character you develop. Grant explores how to build the character skills and motivational structures to realize our own potential, and how to design systems that create opportunities for those who have been underrated and overlooked.Many writers have chronicled the habits of superstars who accomplish great things. This book reveals how anyone can rise to achieve greater things. The true measure of your potential is not the height of the peak you’ve reached, but how far you’ve climbed to get there.

Adam Grant has been Wharton’s top-rated professor for 7 straight years. As an organizational psychologist, he is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, and live more generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as one of the world’s 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortune’s 40 under 40. ​He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 5 books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 35 languages: Think Again, Give and Take, Originals, Option B, and Power Moves. His books have been named among the year’s best by Amazon, Apple, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. His New York Times article on languishing is one of the most-shared articles of 2021. Adam hosts WorkLife, a chart-topping TED original podcast. His TED talks on original thinkers and givers and takers have been viewed more than 30 million times. He received a standing ovation at TED in 2016 and was voted the audience’s favorite speaker at The Nantucket Project. His speaking and consulting clients include Google, the NBA, Bridgewater, and the Gates Foundation. He writes on work and psychology for the New York Times, has served on the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, and has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He has more than 5 million followers on social media and features new insights in his free monthly newsletter, GRANTED.

Right from the beginning, Grant delivers powerful narratives and evidence-based strategies that challenge the way we think about our own growth, both personally and professionally. His research shows how we can better tap into hidden potential that exists in ourselves and in those around us, with a look at some real-world examples that provide specific and practical help. What helps make this a great audiobook is how it weaves essential, fact-based studies with storytelling that makes the information easy to understand and apply forward. Whether you're looking to grow personally or are looking to create a more productive team, "Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things" (Audiobook Version) walks you through real-life solutions and ways to think differently about your own growth. In wrapping up, this is an audiobook that will inform and motivate you with new ways to think about your potential and how you can have more impact on the world around you. If you're interested in tapping into your abilities and influencing your growth professionally and personally, this book will be the perfect listen.

Adam Grant has been my favorite nonfiction author for several years now. His new book, Hidden Potential, delivers again and for me, was an excellent example of the right book at the right time! This book highlights the character we develop when we’re willing to try new things, make mistakes, and start before we truly feel ready. It’s about our growth. The early chapters of Hidden Potential especially resonated with me, and so did the epilogue. “Becoming a creature of discomfort can unlock hidden potential in many different types of learning. Summoning the nerve to face discomfort is a character skill-an especially important form of determination. It takes three kinds of courage: to abandon your tried-and-true methods, to put yourself in the ring before you feel ready, and to make more mistakes than others make attempts. The best way to accelerate growth is to embrace, seek, and amplify discomfort.” Most of suffer from imposter syndrome at one time or another. As Adam points out, when we feel others are overestimating us, we’re often underestimating ourselves. “When multiple people believe in you, it might be time to believe them.” Highly recommend — 4.5 stars

I’m a big fan of Adam Grant’s work; I find that he’s both an engaging writer and brings forward a lot of interesting, nuanced analyses of existing research + his own in an accessible way. That said, I think that this book suffers from what many books in the genre suffer from: the people and examples that he uses to humanize research insights are mostly people like mountaineers in ill health who climb Everest, sports superstars, and the like. While I understand that these examples make for good writing and that the hyperbolic nature of their accomplishments drive his points home, it becomes tiresome and hard to relate. I’d love to see an edition of this book with the examples swapped out for the middle manager who made a big difference at their org, or the mediocre student who went on to become a partner at his law firm, or the meh yoga trainee who opened a studio that was super successful. The consequence, for me, of examples and stories that were so extraordinary was that I struggled to make the connection for how I could apply this knowledge to my own personal and professional life.

The only hidden potential of this book was the cash it grabbed in sales... All jokes aside, there is nothing that a veteran teacher with a master's degree in the related field has not gleamed. This is a conglomeration of a lot of recent pop science into an even more pop self-help book. The amount of games of telephone are bound of course to lead to this book likely being flimsy at best even a decade later, as the science and measurements made to gain these results are reversed or refuted. Most aggravating is the continued use of obvious physical anecdotes like sports and climbing mountains as a catch-all for all fields, regardless of nuance. Are we really still doing this? This feels like a "CEO Crash Course" book that cannot hope to move and shake like it wants to. There is no indication that any of this information will be perceived and implemented by a leader like Grant has laid it out. Grant's book could just as likely cause unforeseen consequences. The points that exist outside this possibility for confusion are the most obvious and therefore trite: "students don't like to read. And reading is important." Pff... Particularly in the realm of education, Hidden Potential comes off as a book written in outer space. School districts don't just have a problem with literacy, they have a problem with even recommending books at all. As Grant says that the literary canon should be expanded to student interest, books are simultaneously being banned and scrutinized at an alarming rate. And so curriculums are tighter and more controlled than ever. The audiobook version was quite bizarre, with Adam Grant's own voice laughing at his own jokes to emphasize their importance, creating the irksome sensation of a housewife on speed who's happy she's vacuuming. There's a lot of facts and logic here, but truth is nowhere to be found. book-club

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book! Grant looks at the social science of hidden potential, and interviews a variety of people from athletes, to the people who helped rescue the trapped miners in Chile in 2010. He doesn't just look at the outliers of success like prodigies, but rather he looks at how seemingly average people went out to achieve amazing things. Breaking this down into three sections: Skills of Character, Skills for Motivation and Systems of Opportunity, Grant uses examples and gives advice for how anyone can achieve their own potential. I only wish he would have focused more on the application of his ideas. He does give a nice summary of his main points at the end of the book which is helpful, but it would have been nice to give specific ideas and ways for people to systematically apply them to their own lives. I'd still highly recommend this book, especially if you are a teacher or leader. It opens up your eyes for ways to see the potential in others and not just focus on a small, narrow category of traits and accomplishments.

Have you ever felt like you've hit a wall in your career or personal growth? Like no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to break through to that next level? Well, buckle up buttercup, because Adam Grant is here to blow the doors off our assumptions about talent, potential, and achievement. In his latest book "Hidden Potential," the Wharton professor and bestselling author takes aim at our obsession with innate talent and makes a compelling case that we all have untapped wells of potential just waiting to be unleashed. Through a blend of rigorous research, captivating stories, and practical advice, Grant argues that with the right mindset and support systems, anyone can dramatically exceed expectations and achieve greater things.

Grant kicks things off by dismantling the widespread belief that success comes primarily from innate ability. You know, the idea that Mozart was just born a musical genius or that Michael Jordan emerged from the womb dunking basketballs. While he acknowledges that some people do have natural advantages, Grant insists that we place far too much emphasis on talent and not nearly enough on effort, persistence, and continuous learning. To illustrate this point, he shares fascinating examples of late bloomers and underdogs who defied the odds through sheer determination. Like R.A. Dickey, the baseball pitcher who reinvented himself in his 30s by mastering the knuckleball and went on to win the Cy Young Award. Or José Hernández, who grew up as a migrant farmworker, learned English as a second language, and eventually became a NASA astronaut after being rejected 11 times. These stories are inspiring, but more importantly, they highlight Grant's central thesis: that potential isn't fixed, but something that can be cultivated and expanded over time. It's less about the height of the peak you reach and more about how far you've climbed to get there.

So if raw talent isn't the key to unlocking our potential, what is? Grant argues that the secret sauce lies in developing what he calls "character skills." These are attributes like proactivity, determination, discipline, and the ability to embrace discomfort and learn from failure. One of my favorite sections explores how we can become "creatures of discomfort" who actively seek out challenges that push us beyond our comfort zones. Grant shares the story of Sara Maria Hasbun, a polyglot who speaks nine languages fluently. Rather than having some innate gift for languages, Hasbun achieved this feat by constantly putting herself in situations where she had to communicate before she felt fully ready. She'd move to new countries and force herself to start speaking the local language immediately, even if she could only say a few basic phrases at first. The takeaway? Growth happens when we're willing to be awkward, make mistakes, and push through the discomfort of not yet being good at something. As Ted Lasso puts it, "If you're comfortable, you're doing it wrong."

While Grant emphasizes personal responsibility in developing our potential, he's no Bootstrap Bill. A key insight of the book is that none of us truly pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps—we all need support systems and structures to help us reach new heights. Grant introduces the concept of "scaffolding"—temporary support structures that enable us to build skills and tackle challenges beyond our current abilities. This could be a mentor who provides guidance, a team that offers encouragement, or even just a system for breaking big goals into manageable steps. He shares the fascinating story of the "Golden Thirteen," the first Black officers in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Despite facing intense discrimination and skepticism about their abilities, all 13 men aced their officer training, achieving the highest collective score in Navy history. Their secret? They created their own scaffolding by forming a tight-knit study group, teaching each other, and holding one another accountable. The lesson here is that we shouldn't be afraid to seek help and create support systems. Paradoxically, leaning on others can actually make us more self-reliant and capable in the long run.

In the final section of the book, Grant zooms out to examine how we can redesign educational, professional, and social systems to better nurture hidden potential in everyone. He argues that our current structures often overlook late bloomers, unconventional thinkers, and those who face systemic barriers. One eye-opening example comes from his analysis of the education system in Finland. Rather than tracking students into gifted programs or remedial classes early on, Finnish schools take a more holistic approach focused on bringing out the best in every child. They emphasize play-based learning, provide individualized support, and even keep students with the same teacher for multiple years to build deeper relationships. The results speak for themselves - Finland consistently ranks at or near the top in international education rankings. Grant also tackles hiring practices, making a compelling case that traditional resume screens and interviews are terrible at identifying hidden potential. He advocates for approaches like work sample tests and trial periods that give candidates a chance to demonstrate their abilities in action.

Throughout the book, Grant sprinkles in practical advice and exercises for applying these insights in our own lives and organizations. Some of my favorites: - Set "minimum lovable goals" rather than striving for perfection. This helps balance high standards with self-compassion. - Practice "deliberate play" - turning skill development into engaging games and challenges rather than rote practice. - Create a personal "judging committee" of trusted advisors to give you honest feedback on your progress. - When stuck, try "backing up to move forward" - sometimes we need to take a step back and try a new approach to make a breakthrough.

"Hidden Potential" builds on themes from Grant's previous bestsellers like "Give and Take" and "Think Again." As in those works, he has a knack for synthesizing complex research into compelling narratives and actionable insights. His writing style is conversational yet intellectually rigorous, striking a nice balance between accessibility and depth. If I had one minor quibble, it's that the book occasionally feels a bit repetitive, hammering home key points multiple times. But hey, maybe that's just good pedagogy - Lord knows I could use the reminders to get out of my comfort zone and embrace the awkward phase of learning new skills.

Whether you're a student, professional, parent, or leader, "Hidden Potential" offers valuable insights for unlocking greater achievement in yourself and others. It's a refreshing antidote to our culture's obsession with prodigies and overnight successes, reminding us that true potential is revealed through sustained effort, continuous learning, and the courage to defy expectations. Grant's message is ultimately a hopeful one: that we all have reservoirs of untapped potential waiting to be discovered. By cultivating the right character skills, creating supportive environments, and redesigning our systems to nurture growth, we can all rise to achieve greater things than we ever thought possible. So the next time you find yourself thinking "I could never do that" or "I'm just not talented enough," remember Grant's central insight: potential isn't something you simply have or don't have. It's something you develop through effort, learning, and perseverance. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go sign up for those improv classes I've been putting off. Time to embrace the discomfort and see what hidden potential I can unlock!