When we vibe with other people, it fuels our happiness and success. Yet building meaningful ties is one of the most pressing problems of our time. As face-to-face interaction gives way to digital screens, communication gets outsourced to AI, and the world becomes more polarized, our loneliness crisis shows no signs of slowing.

To reveal how we can forge faster, stronger, and longer bonds, Adam Grant offers groundbreaking studies, expert insights, and myth-busting stories. Filled with the eye-opening takeaways that have brought millions of readers to his books, Vibe teaches us that similarity is not necessary for solidarity, chemistry doesn’t always happen quickly, and closeness doesn’t always take time.

Along the way, Grant introduces us to a crew of astronauts who learned to trust people they don’t like, a comedy troupe that swears by taking time apart as a key to staying together, a band that grew closer by learning to fight more, and a journalist who designed a gathering that led to seventy-eight marriages. He also opens up about his personal struggles to find his place as a shy introvert and the lessons that propelled his transformation into an enthusiastic convener. Through these examples and more, Grant uncovers the keys to creating deeper relationships and tighter communities.

Vibe will change how you interact with people. No matter how good you are at connecting, you can always get better—and help others get better too.

Grant recently took time to answer seven questions from Porchlight about the book, recommend a few other books, and tell us why we should wait until next year to ask him what's next.

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Porchlight Book Company: Writing a book is no small undertaking. What compelled you to write this one?

Adam Grant: Relationships play a vital role in our happiness and success, but many people are struggling to form new bonds and rekindle old ones. I wanted to figure out how we can vibe with more of the people more of the time.

PBC: What is one unanswered question you encountered as you wrote the book that you are most interested in answering now?

AG: What are the most effective ways to signal to a colleague that you want to be friends?

PBC: If there is only one thing a reader takes away from reading this book, what would you hope it to be?

AG: There are three important roles that people play in our lives: allies, pals, and companions. Allies share our goals; they’re our most reliable and capable collaborators. Pals share our interests and hobbies; they’re our go-to people for a pickleball game or a karaoke night. Companions share our values; they’re our best sources of support and compassion.

PBC: One of the great things about books is that they tend to lead readers to other books. What book[s] related to this topic would you recommend people read after (or perhaps even before) reading your book?

AG: The Culture Code by Dan Coyle and High Conflict by Amanda Ripley.

PBC: What is your favorite book? 

AG: Fiction: Ender’s Game.  Nonfiction: I loved Moonwalking with Einstein.

PBC: What are you reading now?

AG: Two forthcoming books: The Emotional Lives of Parents by Lisa Damour and The Good Boss Project by Dolly Chugh.

PBC: Do you have any future projects in the works that we can look forward to? 

AG: I have a personal policy of never starting a new project during the year of a book launch. Come back to me in 2027 

About the Author

Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at Wharton, where he has been the top-rated professor for seven straight years. His books have sold millions of copies, he is one of TED’s most popular speakers, and his podcasts have over 100 million downloads; he hosts Re:Thinking. Grant has been recognized as the world’s second-most influential management thinker and one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40. Grant received his BA from Harvard University and his PhD from the University of Michigan, and he is a former Junior Olympic springboard diver and magician. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Allison Sweet Grant, a novelist and poet; their two cats (who don’t get along); and their three children (who mostly do).