Pictured here is DEFY by Dr. Sunita Sah, out from One World.

I was really excited to read this galley because it both feels really timely and also is perfect for the work I do.

DEFY is about the way we’re trained from childhood to be compliant, to be obedient, and to not make waves. Sah sets out to explore what we lose when we lose the ability to voice our concerns, speak up, and advocate for ourselves.

This isn’t a book about changing the world (though maybe it could be). First and foremost it’s a book about teaching readers to stand up for themselves and others more, even (or maybe especially) when the stakes don’t seem that high.

Sah offers a modern history of compliance, great case studies of moments when compliance leads to disastrous results, along with lessons in how to become a more active participant in the decisions that impact your life.

Being about two chapters in, I’ve noticed a lot of parallels with case studies from research on psychological safety, so I’m excited to see the overlap between this and that subject area. And, of course, I’m looking forward to learning more strategies on how to defy.

QOTD: what new book are you most looking forward to in 2025?

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