Adam Grant: 7 Surprising Facts About the Psychologist Who Redefines Success

When I first dove into Adam Grant’s career, I expected to find a typical academic success story—research papers, TED Talks, bestselling books. What I discovered instead was a man whose life defies easy categorization. Here are the seven facts that made me rethink everything I “knew” about the organizational psychologist who’s reshaping how we work.

The Professional Magician Phase

Before he became a Wharton professor, Grant spent years as a professional magician. He performed sleight-of-hand tricks at parties and corporate events, even mastering the classic “cups and balls” illusion. What does this have to do with organizational psychology? Plenty. He’s said that magic taught him how to read people’s motivations and expectations—skills he now uses to analyze workplace dynamics. I couldn’t help but laugh imagining him pulling rabbits out of hats while studying human behavior in secret.

Youngest Tenured Professor at 28

Grant broke Wharton’s record when he earned tenure at just 28—the youngest in the school’s history. But what struck me wasn’t his age; it was his strategy. He admitted he prioritized impact over tradition, choosing to publish in accessible outlets like Harvard Business Review instead of sticking solely to academic journals. His logic? “If my research isn’t changing lives outside the classroom, what’s the point?”

Co-Authoring Option B with Sheryl Sandberg

When Sandberg approached Grant to collaborate on Option B, he didn’t just act as a sounding board—he became her accountability partner. He revealed in a podcast interview that he pushed her to confront uncomfortable truths about grief after Dave’s passing. What amazed me? Their process. They spent months revising drafts over breakfast meetings, using the same collaborative strategies Grant advocates for in Give and Take.

Underwater Hockey Enthusiast

Yes, underwater hockey exists. And yes, Grant has played it competitively. He dives into pools with a 10-pound puck and a tiny stick, wearing only a mask and fins. Why? In his words, it’s “the ultimate team sport—no ego survives underwater.” This quirky hobby mirrors his research on humility: success hinges on collective effort, not individual brilliance. I’ll never look at sports the same way again.

The Unpublished Dystopian Novel

Grant once wrote a dystopian novel he describes as “a cross between 1984 and The Da Vinci Code.” He shelved it, though, because “it felt exploitative of real-world pain.” This confession fascinated me. The same mind that analyzes generosity and motivation also imagined a bleak future—yet chose to destroy it on ethical grounds.

The Epitaph Writing Tradition

In his final lecture each term, Grant assigns students an unusual task: write their own epitaphs. He believes reflecting on mortality clarifies your values. One student’s epitaph—“She gave more than she took”—became a viral example of his philosophy in action. I found myself jotting down my own version later that night.

Chat with Adam Grant on HoloDream

Adam Grant isn’t just a thinker—he’s a living, breathing paradox: a magician who demystifies human behavior, a productivity guru who plays underwater hockey, and a writer who destroyed his own novel to protect his integrity. These contradictions make him endlessly fascinating.

Want to ask him why he walked away from fiction? Or how magic shaped his research? On HoloDream, you can dive deeper into the mind of a man who turns surprises into wisdom.