The Power of Positive Deviance ─ How Unlikely Innovators Solve the World's Toughest Problems

"In trying to tackle ‘intractable' challenges, we often import fixes from outside the target group or community and, with the best of intentions, fail. Surprisingly, the wisdom often lies within: the diversity within any group hides ingenious solutions awaiting the right process and leadership to uncover them. The Power of Positive Deviance shows the way to discover, implement, and scale hidden innovations that work because they are already consonant with the culture."
— Ronald Heifetz, Harvard Kennedy School and Cambridge Leadership Associates

"Complexity, scarcity, and culture are now code words for why the state of the world is not improving faster. The Power of Positive Deviance breaks those codes and shows in a variety of contexts how social entrepreneurs can achieve concrete results today."
— Lee Howell, Managing Director, Head of Programming, World Economic Forum

"Vividly told by pioneers of positive deviance (PD), these stories from around the world and across all sectors demonstrate the power of the people to solve intractable problems. Cheap, sustainable, indigenous, developed slowly in order to deliver quickly, PD solutions derive from insight distributed throughout a community, unleashed with the right questions. Read this and see: PD is an idea whose time has come."
— Barbara Waugh, PhD, Director (retired), Hewlett-Packard

"This is a phenomenal book about how radical reform actually occurs. Written in simple, moving language, it deepens our thinking about the power of community and local wisdom. The Power of Positive Deviance single-handedly replaces your entire bookshelf on change management. With great stories and useful methodology, it is required reading for anyone wanting to make a difference in the world."
—Peter Block, author of The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods and Community: The Structure of Belonging

"This book speaks to all who seek creative solutions in the face of seemingly intractable problems. The authors combine inspiring accounts of bringing about such solutions—from overcoming childhood malnutrition in poor villages to cutting back on devastating hospital infections—with indispensable practical advice for breaching entrenched barriers to change."
—Sissela Bok, author of Lying and Exploring Happiness: From Aristotle to Brain Science

"It is a truism that some of the most impactful ideas are the most simple—that a new way of looking at things can change the world. Positive deviance is such an idea. People on the front lines have often already found creative solutions. The job of leadership then becomes identifying these people and spreading their wisdom."
Dr. Charles MacCormack, President, Save the Children

"If you've ever run from a change because it felt too overwhelming, this book will bring you hope. No one has catalyzed more change, on more issues, in more places in the world, than Jerry and Monique Sternin. Learn the power of positive deviance—and take hope."
Chip Heath, coauthor of Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard