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

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. [em]Agent: Max Brockman, Brockman Inc. (May) [/em]