Inside the Box

How do we do more with less?

Limits are the key to stimulating creativity, innovation, and collaboration.

We live in a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and prizes freedom above all else. We have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be, and how to spend our time. All that choice is wonderful; it is also overwhelming. The irony is that total freedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don’t necessarily lead to the biggest breakthroughs. In fact, overvaluing complete freedom can be disastrous for everything from starting a company to harnessing creativity to finding personal satisfaction.

David Epstein argues that all of us—individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies—can benefit from narrowing our options. He dives into the science and practice of constraints, exploring exactly when and how guardrails can be beneficial, whether we’re working with limited resources or using self-imposed boundaries to tap unexpected wells of focus and innovation.

Original, galvanizing, and deeply researched, Inside the Box tells absorbing stories of people and organizations that embraced constraints to transform themselves, and the world—as well as a few that struggled from a lack of limits. Epstein reveals how boundaries create breakthroughs, and how setting the right constraints can help you become the most creative, productive, and satisfied version of yourself.

About the Author :
David Epstein is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Range and the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He has master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and as an investigative reporter for ProPublica. He lives in Washington, DC.

Review :
Praise for Inside the Box

“A masterful case that limits are what set us free. David Epstein is one of the best science writers on the planet, and he shows how smart boundaries can unblock insight, unleash creativity, and unlock potential.” —Adam Grant, bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again

“David Epstein is one of my favorite writers, and Inside the Box is my favorite of his books—wonderfully personal, blessedly practical, full of stories I found myself retelling. A gift for anyone who, like me, needs to be reminded that less can be more.”—Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit

“Creativity comes from limits, not excess. This book explains what I’ve spent years trying to teach cooks: how to make something delicious out of nothing.” —David Chang, founder of Momofuku

“I thought David Epstein’s first two books were brilliant, but Inside the Box is his best. I’ll never think about my own work the same way again.” —Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of Outliers and The Tipping Point


“Inside the Box is spot on. David Epstein is, as always, a powerful source of provocation and curiosity. This book is a compelling reminder that many failures come not from scarcity, but from excess — and that well-chosen limits may be our most under-appreciated competitive advantage.” —Ed Hoffman, NASA's first Chief Knowledge Officer


Praise for Range

“A gold mine of surprising insights. Makes you smarter with every page.” —James Clear, bestselling author of Atomic Habits

“It’s a joy to spend hours in the company of a writer as gifted as David Epstein.” —Susan Cain, bestselling author of Quiet