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
Waiting for Godot
Sailing Alone Around The World
How to Change Your Mind
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Kindly Inquisitors
A Sense of Where You Are
Bringing Down The House
Lucky Me
Why Does College Cost So Much?
Ishmael
Failing Forward
Electrify
100 Deadly Skills
The Bonfire of the Vanities
The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity
Slow Sex
Leonardo Da Vinci
Civilian Warriors
Einstein's Dreams
To Rule the Waves
Startup
The Order of Time
The Clash of the Cultures
With All Due Respect
Eating Animals
Fleishman Is In Trouble
Catherine the Great
Replay
Presidents of War
Brave Enough
The New Market Wizards
Judgment in Managerial Decision Making
Harvesting the Biosphere
A Shot To Save The World
Growth IQ
Justice on Trial
Swallows and Amazons
The Soul of A New Machine
Hate Inc.
Competing in the Age of AI
Sleep in Art
How Companies Win
Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant
Hamlet
The New Atlantis
Rebooting AI
Why Globalization Works
Expectations Investing
Brave New World
Behind the Cloud
The Kitchen Cookbook
Knowledge and The Wealth of Nations
Memoirs of My Life
Traction
Team Topologies
Man's Search for Meaning
Little Leaders
The Artist's Way
Investment Biker
Learned Optimism
The Battle of Alcazar
How To Win at the Sport of Business
Uncommon Measure
The Jewish Century
The Psychology of Achievement
Birth of a Theorem
A Mathematician's Apology
No Future Without Forgiveness
The Meaning of Human Existence
Global Crisis
A Mind At Play
Get Smarter: Life and Business Lessons
Life Ascending
The Gay Science
Anti Americanism
Founding Sales
The Ancient City
Consciousness
The Emotionally Intelligent Investor
Blueprint
Michael Jordan
Lying
The Player of Games
Mindware
Enlightenment Now
Mess
Waking Up
Black Edge
As I Lay Dying
Lake Success
The Supermen
Probability, Random Variables and Stochastic Processes
The Underdog Founder
Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Power of Habit
Lone Survivor
Life Is What You Make It
Calculus Made Easy
Good To Great
The One Thing