Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well

For fans of Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection, this title from Harvard Business School professor Edmondson might feel like an intuitive next step. For others, it will build on the premise that failure isn’t such a bad thing, with its advice about how to make mistakes in ways that increase resiliency rather than eroding one’s self esteem. The first section in this two-part book focuses on the “failure landscape”; the second on practicing the “science of failing well.” Edmondson offers frameworks to help readers understand typologies of failure, and she intersperses personal narratives with research that backs up her points in clear, measurable ways. What’s unique and valuable about this book is how Edmondson helps her audience understand the difference between the “right” kinds of failures and the ones they should avoid—a critical distinction that ensures readers can begin to let go of some of their preconceived notions about comfort while retaining a safe and stable inner core to help them courageously move forward.