A USA Today Bestseller “I love this book. How to Be Bold is a practical road map filled with
real-life stories that will inspire you and help you find courage when it matters most.” —Mel
Robbins New York Times bestselling author and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast From the
distinguished Harvard Business School professor and author of Deep Purpose comes a fresh
examination of courage: what it is and how we are all capable of brave acts. What leads people
to speak truth to power share bold new ideas or put their lives on the line? Most of us chalk
it up to personality presuming that our heroes are naturally fearless. But what if courage
isn’t simply a matter of personality? What if it’s something that any of us can develop? In
How to Be Bold Ranjay Gulati offers a powerful playbook for becoming bolder and braver than
we ever thought possible. Rather than leaving brave deeds to mythological heroes and resigning
ourselves to apathy or cowardice we can train ourselves to step up and act in the face of
uncertainty. The key Gulati argues is to adopt ways of thinking that allow us to neutralize
or moderate our fears. By shifting how we see ourselves and the world we can lower the odds
that we’ll freeze up in the moment while also sustaining courage over prolonged periods. We
also can inspire others around us to display what Gulati calls collective courage. Gulati
shares vivid accounts of extraordinary courageous behavior taking readers inside a nuclear
reactor under threat of meltdown to the front lines of a war zone and into space with NASA
astronauts. Connecting these stories with more mundane examples such as the bravery shown by
health care workers during the height of the COVID pandemic and by a whistleblower who took the
bold step to expose their employer Gulati reveals that what all of these people have in common
isn’t fearlessness. It’s the ability to think in ways that help them manage their fears and
make courageous action possible. We all dream of being heroes and some of us actually live
those dreams. Whether you’re a leader steering your organization through uncertainty an
activist standing up for your beliefs or a young person simply looking to live your best most
fulfilling life How to Be Bold gives you the science-based insight and strategies you need to
take more action do more good and leave an inspiring legacy.
