Acting with Power

Why We Are More Powerful Than We Believe

By: Deborah Gruenfeld

Narrated by: Deborah Gruenfeld

“A refreshing and enlightening new perspective on what it means to be powerful.” (Susan Cain, best-selling author of Quiet)

We all know what it looks like to use power badly. But how much do we really know about how to use power well?

There is so much we get wrong about power: who has it, what it looks like, and the role it plays in our lives. Grounded in over two decades’ worth of scientific research and inspired by the popular class of the same name at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, Acting with Power offers a new and eye-opening paradigm that overturns everything we thought we knew about the nature of power.

Although we all feel powerless sometimes, we have more power than we tend to believe. Power exists in every relationship, not just at the top of big institutions. It isn’t merely a function of status or hierarchy, either. It’s about how much we are needed and how well we take care of other people.

We often assume that power flows to those with the loudest voice or the most commanding presence. But, in fact, true power is often much quieter and more deferential than we realize. Moreover, it’s not just how much power we have but how we use it that determines how powerful we actually are.

Actors aren’t the only ones who play roles for a living. We all make choices about how to use the power that comes with our given circumstances. We aren’t always cast in the roles we desire - or the ones we feel prepared to play. Some of us struggle to step up and be taken more seriously, while others have trouble standing back and ceding the spotlight.

In Acting with Power, Deborah Gruenfeld shows how we can get more comfortable with power by adopting an actor’s mindset. Because power isn’t a personal attribute. It’s a part we play in someone else’s story.

©2020 Deborah Gruenfeld (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A smart, interesting, and timely book about how to use power in everyday life - and, just as important, how not to." (Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychologist and author of Stumbling on Happiness)

"'All the world’s a stage...and one man in his time plays many parts.' Acting with Power stirs us to give our best performance as players on the corporate stage. It shows how the power we do possess can be used well, humanely, for the advancement of something more than our personal success. Deborah Gruenfeld’s book directs us in the art of acquiring power by using our abilities while being our authentic selves. This book is a treasure." (Tristan Walker, founder and CEO of Walker & Company Brands)

"Acting with Power is an entertaining and uplifting read, filled with sharp insight and practical advice. This book will change how you think about power and how you handle it - and will help you see the power you may not have known you have." (Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org)

This Packs an Empowering Punch!

This is one of the most empowering, impactful and compelling books I've listened to in a while! Deborah unpacks power from a unique perspective: through the lens of acting. And it makes so much sense. But it is distinct from the "fake it till you make it" concept. True acting requires empathy, hope, and perhaps a willingness to put your own "self" aside. Then, she goes on to look at the concept of power through all different angles such as bullying, bystanding, upstanding and more. To bring the points home, she uses lots of relevant and real-world examples and some of her own stories. A workbook would be a great companion piece to this. I found so much good information that I also ordered the hardcover book so I can make additional notes. I will be re-listening to this book again and again!

Worth it and learned a lot

I love books narrated by their authors. Deborah Gruenfeld has a beautiful voice. I enjoyed listening to her and knowing I was getting a Stanford-level course for much less than the tuition at Stanford. After reading (actually listening) to this book I'm much more curious about how the courses are dictated in person. There are some parts of the book that I wasn't too much interested in but besides that, the content is great and has real-life applications.

Very Useful

If you did nothing else, read, understand, digest and use the knowledge shared in chapters 5&6

A refreshing look at power dynamics

Power is a poorly understood topic, but one we all have to better understand no matter what our position in life is. This book is full of fascinating insights derived from sound scientific research and illustrated by engaging anecdotes and personal accounts. This is not a book to help you claw your way to the top. In fact, it is better suited to help you deal with those power-hungry jerks we regularly encounter at work or elsewhere. Best of all, it is a wonderful guide to understanding the complex nature of power, how even the shyest among us can use it, and how it can be used in a positive and beneficent way.

Exceptional Content (not so great performance)

Possibly the best self-help book I have come across.

(The narrator's intonation however is incredibly grating on the nerves and distracting. Listening to this narrator is akin to watching Napoleon Dynamite dance. Hopefully, the author's next audiobook is read by a polished, professional narrator 🙏🏽)

Waste of time

If you think you are a victim or that the told is a terrible place, you will enjoy this book because you would agree with the pathetic victim author.

missing pieces

There are some parts of this that just baffle me because the author has clearly not done research on several major movements of business leaders who use their organizations and the power that comes with thrm to do good in society. B corps, Conscious Capitalsim, among others. They are who she should be lifting up