Book & podcast collection

Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes

Organizational psychologist Sunita Sah explores why people comply with requests and expectations that conflict with their values. She distinguishes reflexive resistance from principled defiance: the ability to recognize pressure, evaluate what is being asked, and say no with purpose. Drawing on behavioral research and accounts from workplaces, medicine, institutions, and everyday life, Sah explains how authority, loyalty, politeness, and gradual escalation can silence dissent. The book provides tools for strengthening moral agency while showing leaders how to build cultures where questions and refusals are treated as valuable safeguards rather than disobedience.

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Publication date: 2025
Format: Print edition
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780593445778

Subjects

Assertiveness Ethics Decision Making

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Interview with the Author

4 available interview links

1. New Books in Economics — Sunita Sah, "Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes" (Random House, 2025)Checked

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2. New Books in Business, Management, and Marketing — Sunita Sah, "Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes" (Random House, 2025)Checked

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3. New Books in Psychology — Sunita Sah, "Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes" (Random House, 2025)Checked

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4. The Self Care Unit — How and When to Defy with Dr. Sunita SahChecked

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