The lives behind the lessons

Extraordinary futures.
Human beginnings.

Thirty-four lives across four Parts, alongside a featured life on Elon Musk. Explore opening scenes and editorial reflections from the collection.

Explore by PartType of adversity

35 lives

Part I · The Ground Before the Breakthrough

Tom Hartley

The World Behind the Deal

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Part I · The Ground Before the Breakthrough

Sylvester Stallone

Writing His Own Door

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Part I · The Ground Before the Breakthrough

Chris Gardner

The Long Road to a New Life

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Part I · The Ground Before the Breakthrough

Malala Yousafzai

A Voice That Would Not Be Silenced

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Part I · The Ground Before the Breakthrough

Bethany Hamilton

Rebuilding After the Unthinkable

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Part I · The Ground Before the Breakthrough

Jan Koum

From Hardship to Connection

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Part I · The Ground Before the Breakthrough

Sara Blakely

The First Yes

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Jim Moran

Building a Business Around the Customer

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Part II · Making Opportunity

H. Wayne Huizenga

The Builder Who Kept Moving

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Howard Schultz

Bringing a Vision to Life

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Daymond John

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Russell Brunson

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Grant Cardone

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Tai Lopez

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Samuel Leeds

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Pace Morby

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part II · Making Opportunity

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part III · Reinvention and the Public Arena

Tony Robbins

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part III · Reinvention and the Public Arena

Les Brown

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part III · Reinvention and the Public Arena

Oprah Winfrey

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part III · Reinvention and the Public Arena

Serena Williams

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part III · Reinvention and the Public Arena

Dwayne Johnson

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part III · Reinvention and the Public Arena

Dolly Parton

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part III · Reinvention and the Public Arena

Indra Nooyi

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part III · Reinvention and the Public Arena

J. K. Rowling

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

Billy Carson

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

Napoleon Hill

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

Steve Jobs

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

Robert F. Smith

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

Katalin Karikó

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

José Andrés

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

Michael J. Fox

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

George Foreman

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Part IV · Knowledge, Service, and Lasting Impact

Vera Wang

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Featured life

Elon Musk

A life featured in Adversity’s Gift

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Inclusion in the book does not imply endorsement.