Drive

The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Daniel Pink

Recommended By

Book Reviews

One of Tobi Lutke's favorite books.

Book Synopsis

"Drive" by Daniel Pink is an insightful exploration of human motivation and what truly drives people to succeed. Pink challenges conventional wisdom that believes external rewards such as money and fame are the primary motivators for individuals. Instead, he argues that intrinsic motivation—our deep-rooted desire for autonomy, mastery, and purpose—is the key to unlocking our full potential.

Drawing from extensive research in behavioral science and real-world examples, Pink unveils the surprising truth about motivation. He dissects the traditional carrot-and-stick approach to motivation, which relies on external rewards and punishments, and reveals its limitations. By debunking the myth that extrinsic factors lead to better performance, Pink reveals how businesses and individuals can harness the power of intrinsic motivation to ignite their drive.

Pink introduces the three essential elements that foster intrinsic motivation: autonomy, the desire to direct our own lives and make choices; mastery, the urge to continuously improve and become better at what we do; and purpose, the yearning to contribute to something larger than ourselves. He posits that individuals and organizations can tap into these fundamental drivers by creating environments that encourage autonomy, provide opportunities for growth, and instill a sense of purpose and meaning in our work.

Throughout the book, Pink presents a compelling case for a new approach to motivation, one that supports self-determination and helps individuals unleash their inherent drive. He provides practical strategies and advice for individuals and leaders to foster a culture of motivation, emphasizing the importance of autonomy, mastery, and purpose in unlocking our fullest potential.

"Drive" is an enlightening and thought-provoking book that challenges our traditional understanding of motivation. With its evidence-based insights and actionable advice, Pink’s book offers a fresh perspective on how to tap into our inner drive and unleash our true potential in all aspects of our lives.

Explore More Books

See All
Radical Uncertainty
Information
It's Earnings That Count
Entangled Life
The Signal and the Noise
Nothing To Lose
The 80/20 Principle
Think Like a Rocket Scientist
A Matter of Degrees
Writing My Wrongs
Mindfulness in Plain English
The Power of Broke
Call of the Reed Warbler
The Forgotten Man
World Order
Startups
Anthropic Bias
P53
Energy And Civilization
Why We Sleep
The Golden Compass
Sexual Personae
Smart People Should Build Things
The Trap
Saving Capitalism from Short Termism
Fahrenheit 451
A Woman Makes a Plan
Models. Behaving. Badly.
The Death of the Artist
Chasing Hillary
How To Talk to Anyone
Strength In Stillness
Grit
Ford vs. Ferrari
Public Opinion
Lean Thinking
Dopamine Detox
Intellectuals and Society
The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need
Tools of Titans
The Dragons of Eden
Defend The Border and Save Lives
How Google Works
Out of the Crisis
Poor Charlie's Almanack
The Third Chimpanzee
Pippi Longstocking
The Power of Relentless
The Billionaire Shell Game
A Whole New Mind
The Inflamed Mind
Old Man and the Sea
Bad News
Being Aware of Being Aware
The Blind Watchmaker
United States of Socialism
Moonwalking with Einstein
Fallen Dragon
Slouching Towards Bethlehem
On The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
Out of Mao's Shadow
Adaptive Markets
The Vision of the Annointed
Fertility Pastures
The Act of Creation
Central Banking 101
River Out of Eden
Fall; or, Dodge in Hell
A Story Lately Told
The Boys Vol. 1
The Discovery of France
The Wisdom of Life
Work Hard. Be Nice.
Dog Man
Talent
Frames of Mind
The Book of Five Rings
Architects of the Web
The Second World War
The Grapes of Wrath
Bitcoin and Black America
Americana
Defender In Chief
Under Saturn's Shadow
Who
The Master and Margarita
Platform Revolution
The Making of Europe
Globalizing Capital
The Viral Storm
Planta Sapiens
Experimental Man
In Praise of Slowness
An Inconvenient Truth
Mohandas K. Ghandi
The Rise of the Rest
Can't Hurt Me
The City In History
The Survivor
Washington