Give and Take Summary

Summary of Give and Take Book by Adam Grant

Name: Give and Take
Rating: 4.6 (4258 reviews)
Author: Adam Grant

4.6 . 4258 reviews

Short summary

Many people are of the opinion that karma determines the success of each individual. However, this concept leaves some questions begging. For example, is it better to be a giver than a taker? Should one just match whatever is done to them? Which of these leads to a truly successful life? Author of the bestselling “Originals” and “Option B,” Adam Grant is a successful writer and sociologist who works as a full-time professor at the Wharton School. He shows that the ability to interact with people — classified as takers and givers — is the fourth component required for success, development and financial well-being. The other components are motivation, ability, and opportunity. From Adam Grant’s experience, he makes an argument for the path he believes will bring maximum benefits to an individual. Learn how to become successful by reading this summary. “The more I help out, the more successful I become. But I measure success in what it has done for the people around me. That is the real accolade.” ~ Adam Grant

18 min

11 key points

19 insights

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Table of content

Summary of Give and Take
About the author
What is Give and Take about?
Who should read Give and Take
Topics in Give and Take

first key point

Depending on the situation, people can take, give, or exchange, but each person has a dominant behavioral model

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Takers are people who seek to maximize profits and gain the best benefits from any transaction in which they are involved. They focus on the self. Givers satisfy others first. Then there are those who believe in fair exchange. They will give only as much as they receive.

Everyone is either a giver, a taker, or a blend of both.

There are advantages and disadvantages to all 3 behaviors. More often than not, the takers get most of the juice while the givers get the least benefit from any transaction they are involved in because they often forget about their own interests.

Giving has a positive emotion attached to it. Research reveals that when givers are given money with instructions to share it with a stranger, they experience higher levels of happiness than those who were given more money with instructions to spend it on themselves.

Career–wise, givers are more successful than takers because they enjoy sharing their skills and helping others build their careers.

In fact, studies reveal that as you look up the corporate ladder, you find more givers than takers. These people are willing to share their networks with you. They are also open to mentoring others.

There are givers on both sides of the corporate ladder. This is the risk of giving. When you give too much and to the wrong people, you could end up at the bottom of the ladder.

Takers are willing to sacrifice relationships for short–term benefits. They compete at everything and believe in the survival of the fittest. They expect favors, are domineering and seek attention, which they are not willing to give back.

Don’t mistake politeness for giving.

There are people who appear agreeable and loving but are self–centered. Do not fall for this trick. Wherever they are found, you must learn to spot them and prevent them from exploiting you. If you have a taker in your life — whether professional or personal, you need to be assertive so that they do not continue to take advantage of your relationship with them.

Givers get easily exploited by takers but they can correct this by being assertive. Combine altruism with self–care when you are dealing with a taker.

Being assertive requires identifying that your time, energy and financial resources belong to your loved ones before anybody else. For example, if you’re negotiating a salary as a giver and you think about the impact it would have on the people you love, it may enable you to negotiate better pay.

It is good to be a giver because it brings happiness and builds healthy relationships. When you realize that a taker is exploiting your giving nature, it is better to switch to “matching” mode. Be ready to match the competitiveness of the other person for as long as they act as “takers.” Combine altruism with self–care to get the best out of the relationship.

second key point

Givers are more concerned about helping others than taking credit for their efforts

We all have probably met someone who wowed us with their generosity. What they offered could have been as great as their valuable time or a large sum of money. It could have been as “little” as kindly advice. What we found interesting was that these people offered these things without expecting payback. These people are called givers.

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third key point

Matchers strike a balance between giving and taking

fourth key point

How much we give or take is shaped by our interactions and the community in which we find ourselves

fifth key point

Takers lose more than they get when they take more than is necessary

sixth key point

Givers find it easy to rise to the top because they are focused on growth

seventh key point

Givers have vast networks that are of great value to themselves and others

eighth key point

Givers recognize and nurture the potential they find in the people around them

ninth key point

The most successful kind of communication is the powerless kind

tenth key point

Givers can only rise to the top if they learn to deal with abuse and exhaustion

eleventh key point

Conclusion

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What is Give and Take about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores a new perspective on achieving success. Through extensive research and captivating stories, he reveals the power of giving and taking in various aspects of life. By examining the traits and behaviors of successful individuals, Grant presents a revolutionary approach to achieving personal and professional success, challenging conventional wisdom and inspiring readers to rethink their own strategies for achieving their goals.

Who should read Give and Take

Professionals seeking to enhance their success through effective networking.
Entrepreneurs looking to build successful businesses through collaboration and generosity.
Individuals interested in understanding the power of giving in achieving personal and professional success.

Topics in Give and Take

Success Business Psychology Leadership Career Development Personal Development Networking Communication Motivational Self-Help Productivity Management Entrepreneurship Emotional Intelligence

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