Talent Wants to Be Free

“A powerful critique of our dated ways of thinking about competition . . . [and] a hopeful vision of how law and business can foster innovation. . . . . Lobel has written an important book that challenges the way policymakers and industry leaders should think about human capital.”—Michael Waterstone, Daily Journal

“[A book that] remains both highly readable and relevant.”—Michael B. Arthur, Forbes.com (2023)

2014 Axiom Business Book Awards Gold Seal winner in the Human Resources/Employee Training category

Winner of the 2014 Thorsnes Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship, sponsored by the University of San Diego

Winner of a Gold Medal in the Business/Career/Sales category for the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards

Winner of the 2014 International Book Awards in the Law and Business/Careers categories, sponsored by the American Book Fest

Winner of the 2014 USA Best Book Awards in the Law & Business and Careers categories

“Lobel does an expert job at guiding us through the complex world of restrictive strategies and proves why new approaches to information exchange and protection are imperative if we want to live in a world that fosters innovation and progress.”—Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational and The Honest Truth About Dishonesty
“By combining rigorous academic work and charming storytelling, Orly Lobel has written a book that is interesting and valuable for anyone interested in understanding innovation as well as becoming more innovative.”—Tal Ben-Shahar, author of Choose the Life You Want and Happier

“Orly Lobel’s powerful message—set human talent free—will change the way entrepreneurs and policymakers think about creative advancements. Talent Wants to Be Free is a how-to guide for economic growth in the twenty-first century.”—Jason Mazzone, author of Copyfraud and Other Abuses of Intellectual Property Law

“Professor Lobel’s father wisely advised her, ‘If you want something, give it away.’ Now, she has given all of us a profound gift: a provocative and compelling argument that we should abandon our obsession with controlling ideas and expertise. She draws on research in decision science, behavioral economics, psychology, law, philosophy, and game theory—including much of her own original research—to show the benefits of making talent free. Talent Wants to Be Free is filled with fascinating ideas about how people and skills become depleted when they are monopolized, and is a must read for anyone interested in the ongoing debate about technology, human capital, and innovation.”—Frank Partnoy, author of Wait and The Match King

“What promotes innovation and fairness—intellectual property rights and restrictions on employees moving from one company to another—or free flow of information and people? Especially as technology rewrites rules and expectations, anyone interested in promoting innovation should read Orly Lobel’s powerful analysis that combines lessons from practice, insights from law, and provocative ideas from across the globe.”—Martha Minow, dean of Harvard Law School and author of Partners, Not Rivals and Not Only for Myself