Against the Grain by Terry O’Reilly: Defiant Innovators Changing Canada and Beyond Reviewed

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Terry O’Reilly’s Against the Grain tells the stories of stubborn visionaries who ignored the rules, paid a steep price, and ultimately changed the world. Released on October 14, 2025, by Collins/HarperCollins, this 304-page book from the host of CBC Radio’s Under the Influence delivers exactly what readers of motivational nonfiction want: real people, real setbacks, and real breakthroughs told in accessible, compelling prose [1]. This review of Against the Grain by Terry O’Reilly: Defiant Innovators Changing Canada and Beyond examines who the book is for, what makes it stand out, and whether it belongs on your reading list in 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Author credentials: Terry O’Reilly is a bestselling Canadian author and CBC Radio host whose podcast has been downloaded over 40 million times [1].
• Core theme: The book profiles mavericks who defied conventional wisdom, from medicine to entertainment to professional hockey.
• Standout stories: Dr. Katalin Karikó (co-creator of the COVID mRNA vaccine), NHL coach Roger Neilson, TV producer Norman Lear, and 19th-century physician Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis.
• Format options: Available in hardcover ($36.99 CAD), eBook ($17.99 CAD), and audiobook [1][2].
• Publisher: Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins Canada.
• Page count: 304 pages, making it a focused, mid-length read.
• Best for: Readers who enjoy narrative nonfiction, leadership lessons, and Canadian perspectives on global innovation.
• Category: Business & Economics / Leadership; Self-Help / Personal Growth / Success [2].

Quick Answer

Against the Grain is Terry O’Reilly’s follow-up to My Best Mistake, and it shifts focus from the power of failure to the power of defiance. The book profiles people who questioned the status quo at great personal cost and were eventually proven right. It’s a strong pick for anyone who enjoys bite-sized, well-researched stories about courage and persistence, told by one of Canada’s most trusted media voices. To purchase CLICK HERE

Who Is Terry O’Reilly and Why Does His Voice Matter?

Terry O’Reilly is one of Canada’s most recognized storytellers in the business and media space. He has won hundreds of international advertising awards and has hosted CBC Radio programs since 2005, including O’Reilly on Advertising, The Age of Persuasion, and the long-running Under the Influence [1]. His previous books, The Age of Persuasion, This I Know, and My Best Mistake (a finalist for the National Business Book Award), have all been Canadian bestsellers.

What makes O’Reilly’s perspective valuable is his background in advertising. He understands how ideas get sold, rejected, and eventually accepted. That lens gives Against the Grain a different texture than a typical biography collection. He doesn’t just tell you what happened; he explains why the resistance existed and how the maverick broke through it.

For readers interested in how industries resist change even when the evidence is clear, O’Reilly’s advertising expertise adds a layer of insight that pure historians often miss.

What Is Against the Grain by Terry O’Reilly About?

The book profiles a curated group of individuals who went against conventional wisdom in their respective fields. Each chapter reads as a standalone story, making the book easy to pick up and put down. The subjects span medicine, television, film, sports, and science [1].

The core argument is simple: progress often comes from people who refuse to follow the accepted path, even when doing so costs them their careers, reputations, or livelihoods.

Here are the key figures profiled:

Each story follows a similar arc: conviction, resistance, sacrifice, and eventual vindication. But O’Reilly keeps the formula fresh by varying the tone and depth based on the subject.

The Standout Story: Dr. Katalin Karikó’s Decades of Rejection

If one chapter captures the spirit of the entire book, it’s the story of Dr. Katalin Karikó. O’Reilly describes how Karikó spent her entire career being humiliated, demoted, and dismissed for her belief that messenger RNA could be used to fight disease [1]. She lost her faculty position, had grant applications repeatedly rejected, and was told her research was a dead end.

“One even saved millions of people around the world, but was humiliated, demoted, and dismissed for her entire career.” — Book description, harpercollins.ca

Then COVID-19 arrived. Karikó’s decades of mRNA research became the foundation for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, which were administered billions of times worldwide. She went from academic obscurity to a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023.

O’Reilly uses Karikó’s story to make a broader point: the people who change the world often look like failures for most of their careers. The system isn’t designed to reward long-shot bets. It rewards conformity. That tension between institutional inertia and individual vision runs through every chapter of Against the Grain.

For those curious about how people push for change against powerful systems, Karikó’s story is a masterclass in persistence.

How Does Against the Grain Compare to O’Reilly’s Previous Books?

Against the Grain is the natural next step in O’Reilly’s publishing arc. Here’s how it fits:

• The Age of Persuasion (2009): How advertising shapes culture and consumer behavior.
• This I Know (2017): Marketing lessons drawn from Under the Influence.
• My Best Mistake (2022): How failures and errors led to unexpected breakthroughs.
• Against the Grain (2025): How deliberate defiance of the status quo drives progress.

The progression is clear. O’Reilly moved from examining systems (advertising, marketing) to examining individuals (people who fail, people who rebel). Against the Grain is his most people-focused book yet, and the storytelling reflects that shift. The chapters are more narrative-driven and less structured around business frameworks [5].

Choose this book if: You prefer stories about real people over abstract business advice. Skip it if: You want step-by-step leadership tactics or management playbooks.

Who Should Read Against the Grain by Terry O’Reilly?

This book works for several audiences:

• Motivational nonfiction readers who enjoy authors like Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, or Ryan Holiday
• Canadian readers looking for a homegrown perspective on global innovation, especially given O’Reilly’s deep roots in Canadian media and his connection to the cultural celebrations that define Canadian identity
• Entrepreneurs and business leaders who need a reminder that resistance to new ideas is normal, not a sign to quit
• Students and educators looking for accessible, well-told case studies of innovation under pressure
• Podcast listeners already familiar with Under the Influence who want deeper dives into O’Reilly’s favorite stories

Common mistake: Expecting a how-to guide. This is narrative nonfiction, not a workbook. The lessons are embedded in the stories, not spelled out in bullet points.

What Are the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Book?

Strengths:

• Accessible writing. O’Reilly writes at a level that works for general readers without dumbing down the subject matter. His advertising background means he knows how to hold attention.
• Diverse subjects. The book covers medicine, entertainment, sports, and science, so it never feels repetitive.
• Standalone chapters. Each profile works on its own, making the book ideal for busy readers.
• Canadian perspective. The inclusion of Roger Neilson and O’Reilly’s own broadcasting context gives the book a distinctly Canadian flavor that sets it apart from American-centric leadership titles.
• Emotional resonance. The Karikó chapter alone justifies the purchase for many readers.

Potential weaknesses:

• Familiar formula. The underdog-vindicated structure can feel predictable after several chapters.
• Limited actionable advice. Readers looking for concrete frameworks won’t find them here.
• Narrow scope. Five to six profiles means the book can’t cover every type of maverick or every industry.

For readers who appreciate stories about legendary figures who left lasting cultural marks, the book’s biographical approach will feel familiar and satisfying.

Where to Buy and What Formats Are Available

Against the Grain is widely available across major retailers in Canada and internationally [1][2][3].

• ISBN (eBook): 9781443471442 [2]
• ISBN (Hardcover): 9781443471435 [3]
• Publisher: Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins Canada
• Page count: 304 pages

To purchase CLICK HERE

The audiobook option is worth noting for fans of O’Reilly’s radio work. His voice is a significant part of the Under the Influence experience, and hearing the stories read aloud adds a layer that print can’t replicate.

How Does This Book Fit Into the 2026 Nonfiction Landscape?

In 2026, the nonfiction market is saturated with AI-focused titles and productivity guides. Against the Grain stands out because it looks backward to look forward. The stories of Semmelweis, Karikó, and Neilson remind readers that innovation has always required courage, long before algorithms and automation entered the conversation.

O’Reilly’s book also arrives at a moment when questions about technology’s role in replacing human judgment are front and center. The mavericks in Against the Grain succeeded precisely because they trusted their own instincts over institutional consensus. That message resonates differently in an era when many people feel pressured to defer to systems and data.

For Canadian readers in particular, the book reinforces that world-changing ideas don’t only come from Silicon Valley or Ivy League labs. They come from communities that value creativity and independent thinking, including communities right here in Ontario.

Conclusion

Against the Grain by Terry O’Reilly is a well-crafted collection of stories about people who refused to back down. It won’t teach you a five-step leadership method, but it will remind you why stubbornness in the face of institutional resistance is sometimes the most important quality a person can have. The Karikó chapter alone makes the book worth reading, and O’Reilly’s storytelling keeps every profile engaging.

To purchase CLICK HERE

Actionable next steps:

1. Pick up the book in your preferred format (hardcover, eBook, or audiobook) from major Canadian retailers [1][3].
2. Start with the Karikó chapter if you want the most emotionally powerful story first.
3. Listen to Under the Influence on CBC Radio or as a podcast to get a feel for O’Reilly’s style before buying.
4. Share the Roger Neilson chapter with any hockey fans in your life; it’s a uniquely Canadian innovation story they likely haven’t heard told this way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Against the Grain by Terry O’Reilly about?
It profiles mavericks who defied conventional wisdom in fields like medicine, entertainment, sports, and science, exploring what made them persist despite enormous personal cost [1].

When was Against the Grain published?
October 14, 2025, by Collins/HarperCollins Canada [1].

How much does Against the Grain cost?
The hardcover is $36.99 CAD, the eBook is $17.99 CAD, and the audiobook is available for $0.99 with an Audible membership [2].

Is Against the Grain available as an audiobook?
Yes, it’s available through Audible and Amazon’s audiobook platform [1].

Who is Dr. Katalin Karikó and why is she in the book?
She co-developed the mRNA technology behind the COVID-19 vaccines. O’Reilly profiles her decades of rejection and eventual vindication as a Nobel laureate.

Is this book only for Canadian readers?
No. While O’Reilly is Canadian and includes Canadian figures like NHL coach Roger Neilson, the stories have universal appeal across industries and countries.

How does this compare to My Best Mistake?
My Best Mistake focused on the power of failure and accidental discoveries. Against the Grain focuses on deliberate defiance of the status quo [5].

How many pages is the book?
304 pages in the hardcover edition [1].

What reading level is Against the Grain written at?
O’Reilly writes for a general audience. No specialized knowledge in medicine, sports, or entertainment is needed to enjoy the book.

Is Terry O’Reilly a credible author on this topic?
Yes. He has won hundreds of international advertising awards, hosted CBC Radio programs since 2005, and his podcast has been downloaded over 40 million times [1].

References

[1] Against The Grain Terry Oreilly – https://www.harpercollins.com/products/against-the-grain-terry-oreilly

[2] Against The Grain Terry O 39 Reilly V9781443471442 – https://www.vitalsource.com/products/against-the-grain-terry-o-39-reilly-v9781443471442

[3] abebooks – https://www.abebooks.com/9781443471435/Against-Grain-Defiant-Giants-Who-1443471437/plp

[5] 429582.terry O Reilly – https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/429582.Terry_O_Reilly

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