Since the beginning of time, we have placed a strong emphasis on the individual factors that contribute to success: ability, hard work, enthusiasm, and luck. But in today's world, success is directly proportional to the way in which we engage with other people. Interestingly, we can categorize most individuals as either takers, matchers, or givers in their professional interactions. Givers are a rare breed of people who offer to others without expecting anything in return. Takers are people who want to get as much as they can from other people, whereas matchers are people who try to trade things out in an even manner.

Grant demonstrates that these types have a startling impact on success through his own groundbreaking research as the youngest tenured professor at Wharton. While some donors may face exploitation and exhaustion, the majority achieve exceptional results in a diverse range of fields. This landmark book combines cutting-edge evidence with captivating stories to demonstrate how one of the most successful networkers in the United States of America developed his connections, why the creative genius behind one of the most popular shows in TV history toiled away for years in anonymity, how a basketball executive who was responsible for multiple draft busts transformed his franchise into a winner, and how we could have predicted Enron's demise four years before the company collapsed without ever looking at a single number.