A leading innovation expert illuminates how each of us can unlock the capacity of even our wildest ideas to make a unique contribution to the world.
Nilofer Merchant is a thought leader in business and entrepreneurship who won the Thinkers 50 Award in 2013, has written two business books on collaborative work, and was named by Fast Company one of the 25 Smartest Women on Twitter. She has been featured on Bloomberg, CNN, Mashable, Forbes.comand inThe Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Vogue, O- The Oprah Magazine, TheNew York Times, Financial Times, Fast Company, Fortune, and Harvard Business Review. Her 2013 TED Talk "Sitting Is the Smoking of Our Generation," is one of the top 10 percent of the most viewed on that platform.
“The Power of Onlyness is a book for our times. . . . we wonder if
we, as one person amidst [the] din, can make a difference. We
wonder if one step will truly add up, over time, to a thousand or a
million steps toward progress. The Power of Onlyness says yes,
emphatically, and we couldn’t need that kind of encouragement more.
. . . Just as Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence, or E.Q.,
eventually became a widely used phrase describing what was
previously thought of as a ‘soft’ personal quality . . . onlyness
has the potential to change the way we think about people and the
ideas they generate. . . . Merchant is asking us to look less at
types of people, as Goleman did, or groups of people, as [Susan]
Cain did, and instead appreciate the individual as having a unique
perspective that no one else can claim. From that position, your
ideas are unique to you . . . . Merchant isn’t calling for a
cacophony of voices, disparate and competing. Her book is not about
individualism as much as it is about community. . . . Merchant
forces us to dig deep, into the book and ourselves, and it goes
beyond self-knowledge and self-empowerment, obliterating the fear
of otherness with an understanding of the onlyness of us all. The
Power of Onlyness calls us to identify what is good in ourselves
and to connect with what is good in others so that, together, we
can indeed dent the world.”
—Sally Haldorson, 800-CEO-READ (staff pick)
“No longer do we need to worry about how our ideas will be judged.
By showing us how to mobilize communities around our ideas, Nilofer
Merchant shows us why and how we can elevate the power of our ideas
to limitless heights unfettered by conformity.”
—Amy Cuddy, author of Presence
“With The Power of Onlyness, Nilofer Merchant passes all three
tests of a masterpiece: 1) memorable stories; 2) actionable
insights; and 3) urgent relevance to now!”
—Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence
“Merchant discovers her onlyness when she walks out on an arranged
marriage. At first, she doesn’t know what to call it but a lifetime
of encouraging men and women to summon the best of themselves
teaches her how to nurture it—in herself and others. Now we need
her empowering work more than ever. Onlyness doesn’t mean you work
alone; but you train yourself, sometimes against the odds, to
recognize your own value and increase your chance of finding
allies!”
—Sherry Turkle, author of Reclaiming Conversation and Alone
Together
“With captivating stories and keen insights, Nilofer Merchant urges
us to cast aside conformity and embrace our own unique identity and
purpose. The Power of Onlyness is a bold, inspiring book that will
leave you feeling infused with power and ready to take on the
world.”
—Dan Pink, author of Drive and To Sell is Human
“Nilofer Merchant’s spectacular gift is to make tangible what we
already feel to be instinctual: the power of the individual
alongside the power of a community in the service of one idea can
change the world. But Nilofer also explains what may not feel so
instinctual: that all of us have the capacity to create change, no
matter our social, racial, gender or economic status. This book is
one of the most hopeful pieces of writing I’ve read in a long time.
Nilofer defines and explains the value of individuality and
collaboration in equal measure. It’s a true celebration not just of
humanity but of all the possibilities we can accomplish
together.”
—Stacy London, style expert, TV personality, and author of The
Truth about Style
“For any would-be activists who hear the voice: ‘not me’ or ‘not
now,’ Merchant makes the strong case for ‘yes you’ and ‘yes
now’—and even shows you how to jump in.”
—Van Jones, host of CNN’s The Messy Truth, author of Rebuild
the Dream and The Green Collar Economy
“This is an illuminating book about the context in which great,
world-changing ideas emerge and take root, with stories and
insights galore.”
—Eli Pariser, co-founder and co-CEO, Upworthy
“The Power of Onlyness is the wake-up call that the world
needs so badly right now. It's a reminder that, quite simply, we
all matter. That each perspective has inherent value. That each
person's unique vantage point is literally a position of power.
That each voice matters, and should be used. Be warned: after
reading this book, you won't be able to ignore that voice again.
You will be compelled to speak up and to use it, in bigger, bolder,
louder ways than ever before.”
—Jessica Jackley, founder of Kiva
“An exhortation to raise one’s freak flag, dust off that notebook
full of plans and dreams, and set up shop. . . . The best of
Merchant’s case studies illustrate the operating principles of
cultural difference and the power of persistence in getting things
done.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Merchant encourages her readers to embrace their uniqueness in
this self-help guide for would-be innovators. She begins by
asserting the importance of identifying one’s purpose, or what she
calls ‘the dent,’ and then tells her readers how to find theirs. .
. . Next, Merchant encourages her readers to find ‘co-denters,’
those people who can help you amplify your message. Finally, she
urges readers to galvanize others to act . . . Merchant asserts
that trust is rewarded . . . and delivers an inspiring message
about the power of believing in one’s dreams.”
—Publishers Weekly
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