The Formula

The Universal Laws of Success

By: Albert-László Barabási

Narrated by: Ryan Vincent Anderson

Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

In the best-selling tradition of Malcom Gladwell, James Gleick, and Nate Silver, prominent professor László Barabási gives us a trail-blazing book that promises to transform the very foundations of how our success-obsessed society approaches their professional careers, life pursuits, and long-term goals.

Too often, accomplishment does not equal success. We did the work but didn't get the promotion; we played hard but weren't recognized; we had the idea but didn't get the credit. We convince ourselves that talent combined with a strong work ethic is the key to getting ahead, but also realize that combination often fails to yield results, without any deeper understanding as to why.

Recognizing this striking disconnect, the author, along with a team of renowned researchers and some of the most advanced data-crunching systems on the planet, dedicated themselves to one goal: Uncovering that ever-elusive link between performance and success.

Now, based on years of academic research, The Formula finally unveils the ground-breaking discoveries of their pioneering study, not only highlighting the scientific and mathematic principles that underpin success, but also revolutionizing our understanding of:

• Why performance is necessary but not adequate
• Why "experts" are often wrong How to assemble a creative team primed for success
• How to most effectively engage our networks

"This is not just an important but an imperative project: To approach the problem of randomness and success using the state of the art scientific arsenal we have. Barabasi is the person." (Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of the New York Times best-selling The Black Swan and Distinguished Professor of Risk Engineering at NYU)

©2018 Albert-László Barabási (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"This is not just an important but an imperative project: to approach the problem of randomness and success using the state of the art scientific arsenal we have. Barabasi is the person." (Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of the New York Times best-selling The Black Swan and distinguished professor of risk engineering at NYU)

"Laszlo Barabasi is an extraordinary scientist who has enjoyed great success. He brings to bear all of his capacity as the former to understand the latter - to our great benefit. Writing in a lively fashion, he illuminates broad principles that explain how people in all fields - from entrepreneurs to scientists to athletes to artists - achieve success. The insights are novel and useful, and backed not just by vivid stories, but also by the sorts of detailed and inventive scientific analyses, plainly explained, for which Barabasi is rightly famous." (Nicholas Christakis, coauthor of Connected and the Sol Goldman Family professor of social and natural science at Yale University)

"Barabasi will indelibly transform the way we all think about success." (Alex Pentland, author of Social Physics and Toshiba professor at MIT)

An Absolute Must!

This is a dynamic listen. Performance, Networking, Team Work, Creativity and Consistency are explained scientifically. I will listen to this audio book at least once per quarter. This book is a gem.

solid

loved the way the information was delivered. this will become a repeat read for me.

At 49, I have the insight needed for my carrer

I already realized that the ups and downs of the 1st half of my career have created my current reality. This book is not a BS self-help effort filled with plattitudes and shallow optimism. Instead it does the real work of giving the tools and examples to judge today's reality against a roadmap for what can be next, regardless of where you are starting. I am brimming with ideas for "what to do on Monday morning" now.

The only criticism is that his impressive research isn't available for a more personal analysis--its left me engaged with more of a thought experiment. Nothing to put into a spreadsheet or some other meaningful exercise.

Nice work about something that been misunderstood

Engaging, enlightening a simple explanation about something crucial in the life of people that pursue the satisfaction to change the world ... hopefully for good.

The missing piece to the puzzle

This book is enlightening for its analytical way of explaining successful phenomenons and cases of people that gained fame and popularity.

Although I have to keep in mind that everything this book has explained is not all there is to “success” there are many other factors, but this book definitely explained one layer of success that people can use strategically to their advantage in things they do, materials they learn and businesses they want to succeed in.

hard science on the nature of achievement

A wonderful book motivated by passion but built on solid logic through meticulous research. Many human stories illustrate the concepts. It is full of surprising conclusions that are explained carefully until they seem quite obvious. it combines the self-help book with road map for success based on handful of simple principles backed by extensive research, peer review, and citations to papers that can be read and evaluated.

great pickup

this book was definitely something I needed to hear it's not just performance there's a lot of factors that affect the rateof success now that I know the formula I can actually act upon and be positive I'm very confident in Great Book

great story--annoying use of inclusive language

Instead of just using "he" or plural "they," the author switches between different conventions--extremely annoying!

Excellent work.

Barabasi and his team applies the scientific method to understanding performance and success. Well done.

Thought provoking and profoundly interesting

Barabasi formulates the natural laws underlying “success” extremely clearly. Based on the research on networks that he has revolutionized, he puts forward a multitude of interesting concepts and thought provoking anecdotes that will forever change the way the reader thinks about success. Even for an incurable introvert, this book profoundly encourages perseverance.