Book SummaryProfessional Troublemaker, by Luvvie Ajayi Jones

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Professional Troublemaker

In her New York Times best-selling book Professional Troublemaker, Luvvie Ajayi Jones provides a how-to guide for becoming a changemaker, or “troublemaker”: a person who isn't afraid to speak up and take action to create positive change in their own lives and the lives of others.

Jones is a Nigerian-American speaker, podcast host, and author of four New York Times best sellers, including I’m Judging You. She is also known for her large social media following and her popular blog, AwesomelyLuvvie.com.

Jones defines a “professional troublemaker” as someone who:

1. Is comfortable with who they are, so they have a foundation for saying and doing things that challenge the status quo
2. Speaks the truth and advocates for what they believe in, even (and...

Professional Troublemaker Summary Part 1: How to Be Comfortable With Who You Are

Jones asserts that you need to be comfortable with who you are if you’re going to challenge the status quo. Speaking up and taking action for what you believe in isn’t easy, so you need a strong foundation to fall back on when you inevitably encounter challenges.

Know Where You Come From

Jones says that to know yourself, you first have to know where you come from. Who are the people and communities that made you? Jones gives the example of the oríki, a praise poem sung to or about a person in the Nigerian Yorubá culture to remind them of their ancestors and the larger collective of which they’re a part. Jones suggests writing your own oríki, in which you include your name, your family name, and the personal qualities or accomplishments you’re proud of.

(Shortform note: Experts agree that learning about your ancestors can help you feel like a part of a larger community or tradition. For example, knowing that you come from a long line of artists can help you feel more secure in your identity as an artist. Researching your history can also...

Professional Troublemaker Summary Part 2: How to Speak Up for What’s Right

Jones argues that if we want to be a changemaker, we have to speak up honestly for what we believe in, even if it’s risky, scary, and difficult.

Be Honest Even When It’s Risky

Jones argues that we need to tell the truth, even when it’s risky. She defines truth-telling as everything from being honest with your friend about her unflattering haircut to challenging a misguided idea in a corporate meeting to protesting injustice. Jones acknowledges that speaking the truth is risky because it could cause serious consequences like the loss of a friendship or a job.

Because telling the truth is risky, people lie a lot, from little white lies to big, damaging lies. Jones cites a University of Massachusetts study that found that most people lied at least once during a 10-minute conversation. She argues that this is because people are afraid of the truth. Deceiving ourselves and others protects us from having to deal with the hard truths of reality.

But Jones says that while telling the truth can be risky and difficult, it also has important benefits. Speaking up about challenges in a relationship can strengthen the relationship. If you’re known for telling the truth and...

Professional Troublemaker Summary Part 3: How to Take Action to Make the World a Better Place

While making the world a better place can seem like an overwhelming task, Jones provides a handful of tips that can make your actions more effective, powerful, and just. She advises that you constantly work to improve yourself; learn to delegate; be kind, not nice; and create a community of friends.

Always Be Evolving

Jones contends that it’s our responsibility, as flawed humans, to do what we can to change ourselves for the better. Sometimes people will make us feel guilty for changing, but often that’s because they feel bad about their own stagnancy.

(Shortform note: 18th-century philosopher Immanuel Kant also believed that people have a moral duty to improve themselves. This duty stems from his maxim that we shouldn’t treat anyone—either ourselves or others—as a means to an end. If you do anything less than your best, Kant reasoned, you’re treating yourself as a means to an end. And if you hurt or manipulate others to get what you want, you’re treating them as a means to an end. Kant believed that humans have a unique ability to make rational decisions and exercise free choice, so we must respect that ability by working...

Shortform Exercise: Practice Overcoming Your Fear of Speaking Up

Jones advocates for speaking up to correct a wrong, establish boundaries, improve a situation, point out a blind spot, or right an injustice. She acknowledges that it’s normal to fear rejection or punishment if you speak up, but she argues that you should do it anyway because it’s a powerful way to improve your life and the lives of other people. Practice overcoming your fear of speaking up using Jones’s tips.

Identify a relationship or situation in which you want to speak up but are afraid to do so. (For example, did your friend do something that hurt your feelings? Does your boss want you to do something you don’t feel comfortable doing? Do you want to protest a law or policy you believe is wrong?) Consider what might happen if you speak up. Describe the worst-case scenario (for example, your friend could feel hurt or reject you, or you could be arrested for protesting) and consider how likely that scenario is to happen.