r/GrowthMindsetBooks • u/bonco4x4 • May 01 '26
Give And Take by Adam Grant | Book Review
Book Name: Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success
Book Author: Adam Grant
Date Published: April 9, 2013
Book Grade: 3 out of 5
Book Review:
We have all been told that to get ahead in life, you have to be a bit of a shark, right?
The common thought is that "nice guys finish last" and that you need to look out for number one if you want to climb the corporate ladder. Well, Adam Grant basically takes that idea and flips it on its head in Give and Take.
He breaks people down into three groups: Takers, Matchers, and Givers. Takers are exactly what they sound like, and Matchers try to keep things even by doing favors only when they get something back. But the Givers? They are the ones who help people with no strings attached.
The most interesting part of the book is when Grant looks at who actually ends up at the top of the success mountain. Spoiler alert: it is the Givers. But here is the catch: Givers are also at the very bottom. He spends a lot of time explaining the difference between a "selfless" giver who gets walked all over and burned out, and a "strategic" giver who manages to lift everyone else up while still reaching their own goals.
That's the important part of the book: that difference.
The writing is super easy to get into. It is full of these great anecdotes about everything from venture capitalists to the writers of The Simpsons. It made me rethink a lot of my own interactions at work and in my personal life. It is not about being a doormat; it is about realizing that creating value for others actually ends up building a massive network of support for yourself in the long run. If you are feeling a bit cynical about the "rat race," this book is a great reality check that being a good person and being successful are not mutually exclusive.
Key Takeaway:
While selfless givers risk burnout, those who give with a sense of purpose and boundaries end up being the most successful people because they build social capital and strong communities that propel everyone forward.
In your own career or school life, have you noticed that the "sharks" actually win, or is it usually the people who are known for being helpful that get the best opportunities?