Rebels and Dissenters

This article is part of our Mentor-Coach Reading List series. Join the mailing list to receive this and more.

Here’s to the people who see things differently and have the courage to bring about change.

The thought leaders, provocateurs, role-models, trail blazers, exceptional contributors and leaders with curious, passionate and inquiring minds - they’ll definitely give you something to think about.

And here’s a couple of my favourite quotes:

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” - Steve Jobs, Apple’s “Think Different” ad, 1997

“Politicians come in three varieties: straight men, fixers, and maddies.”- Paul Keating

Change and creative problem-solving never comes easily. For ideas to evolve and societies to progress, it's vital to cultivate rebels who are committed to challenging and improving conventional wisdom. And it is not just individuals. Dissent, deviance, difference and defiance can be a normal and healthy aspect of group life.

Happy reading and stay curious!

Here is more information about the Series 13 selection of books.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, August 2018) by Debbie Levy and Elizabeth Baddeley. This book is for the little rebels in your life. They get to know celebrated Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this picture book about her life as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable! I couldn’t resist including this on the list.

The Art of Insubordination: How to Dissent and Defy Effectively (Avery; July 2022) by Todd B. Kasdan a professor of psychology at George Mason University, and a leading authority on well-being, curiosity, courage, and resilience. For ideas to evolve and societies to progress, it's vital to cultivate rebels who are committed to challenging conventional wisdom and improving on it. Change never comes easily. And most would-be rebels lack the skills to overcome hostile audiences who cling desperately to the way things are. Based on cutting-edge research, The Art of Insubordination is for anyone seeking to be heard, make change, and rebel against an unhealthy status quo.

Rebels in Groups: Dissent, Deviance, Difference, and Defiance (Wiley-Blackwell; July 2011) edited by Jolanda Jetten is Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia and Matthew J. Hornsey is an Associate Professor of Social Psychology and Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Queensland, Australia. With contributions from leading scholars in the field, Rebels in Groups brings together the latest research which, contrary to traditional views, considers dissent, deviance, difference and defiance to be a normal and healthy aspect of group life. It examines a broad range of groups, such as political groups, task groups, and teams in organisations and considers diverse fields of psychology, including social, organisational, and developmental psychology.

Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking (John Murray; March 2020) by Matthew Syed. Offers a radical blueprint for creative problem-solving. It challenges hierarchies, encourages constructive dissent and forces us to think again about where the best ideas come from. It explores the science of team performance, drawing on psychology, economics, anthropology and genetics. It takes lessons from a range of case-studies, including the catastrophic intelligence failings of the CIA before 9/11, a communication breakdown at the top of Mount Everest, and a moving tale of deradicalisation in America's deep South.

Corporate Rebels: Make work more fun (Corporate Rebels Nederland B.V.; Illustrated edition, February 2020) by Joost Minnaar and Pim de Morree. Drawing on Minnaar and De Morree’s visits to 100+ of the world’s most progressive organisations, this book gives direct evidence that you can make work enjoyable and rewarding, while boosting performance and success. Whether you’re in the leadership team, a rebel who has been suppressed by corporate dogma or a manager who is trapped in the broken system: this book will make you think.

Talents & Rebels. Dealing with corporate misfits (Hoepli, October 2019) Any business needs Innovators to stay competitive, and Rebels to survive. That's the thesis of the book written by Matteo Rizzi and based on 20 years of lateral thinking, and a rather unusual corporate and entrepreneurship experience. With a background in financial services, and using concrete examples of disruptive innovation as one of the biggest opportunities that everyone should be taking into consideration, this is a journey where – hopefully – misfits get a spot to be heard, and everyone gets an opportunity to understand a different innovation perspective.