How to Be Bold

The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage

De: Ranjay Gulati

Narrado por: Fred Stella

“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 listeners 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.

©2025 Ranjay Gulati (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Great book- full of evidence-backed insights on how to become bolder and braver!

I learned and grew so much from the stories of bold and brave individuals shared in the book, as well as strategies that helped them succeed. Ranjay Gulati highlights the common shared human qualities, such as personal determination and the power of community social support, that inspired these individuals to achieve greatness. This book served as a powerful reminder that bravery and courage are innate in all of us, and that there are many ways to unlock and harness these natural traits to become more and do more. I have become more aware of the fear-based and self-imposed obstacles that often block me from living into greater possibilities. The memorable strategies, all beginning with letter C, offer a simple yet powerful framework for anyone striving to build and strengthen courageous character.