The Power of Giving Away Power by Matthew Barzun Summary
Overview of The Power of Giving Away Power
Former ambassador Matthew Barzun reveals why surrendering control creates unstoppable organizations. Embraced by leadership circles for challenging traditional hierarchies, this book introduces the "constellation mindset" that powered Obama's campaigns. What if giving away power is actually your greatest strength?
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Key takeaways
The Two Faces of Power: Stars or Stones?
Pull out a dollar bill and look closely. You'll find something curious - a pyramid with an all-seeing eye floating above it. Turn to the Great Seal of the United States, and you'll discover something most Americans never notice: there's another side. It shows a constellation of thirteen stars, each representing a state, arranged in a pattern of mutual coordination. These aren't just decorative symbols - they represent two fundamentally opposing philosophies of how power works. One concentrates control at the top, flowing downward through rigid hierarchy. The other distributes power across networks of equals, creating energy through connection. Here's what makes this fascinating: the constellation side was cast in metal immediately upon approval in 1782, but the pyramid side sat dormant for 150 years until Franklin Roosevelt placed it on currency during the Great Depression. That shift wasn't accidental - it marked America's pivot toward centralized federal power. But which approach actually creates more power? The answer might surprise you, because it turns out that giving power away often generates far more than hoarding it ever could.
When Encyclopedias Went to War and Credit Cards Conquered the World
The Woman Who Saw It First
The Ambassador, the Alcoholics, and Fruitful Friction
The Campaign That Grew Like a Snowflake
When Magic Fades and Pyramids Return
The Might of Uncertainty
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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