According to the Dictionary of Sanskrit Names, "Sunita" represents "she who has good conduct or behavior."
Dr. Sunita Sah tried to live her life by that definition while growing up in an immigrant family in 1980s northern England. To her, that meant doing as she was told - especially by her parents and teachers.
But as she got older, Sah - a physician-turned-organizational psychologist in the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, and a core faculty member in the Cornell Health Policy Center - began to realize that obedience wasn't necessarily a proxy for being "good." The ability to respond with "no" - when that act of defiance is fueled by one's beliefs and values - has changed her whole outlook.
"Defiance is acting in accordance with your true values when there is pressure to do otherwise," she said. "Defiance is not just saying no to something that is not right. It's saying yes to the world you want to create."
Sah has written "Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes," released on Jan. 14 by Penguin Random House. With personal stories, original and thought-provoking science, and clear steps on how to move from intention to action, Sah reveals why people need to develop more agency in their lives and change the world they live in.
"Defy" has been honored as one of Amazon's Editor's Picks for Best Nonfiction for 2025.
Sah spoke with the Chronicle about her new book.
Question: Was there a tipping point to where you felt you had to write this book? Or was it a culmination of your experiences growing up and as a young professional?
Answer: The book was born out of both a culmination of experience and a singular moment. "Defy" is deeply personal, shaped by a lifetime of questioning what it means to navigate societal expectations. As a child, I was taught that being obedient was "good," that authority figures were to be trusted, and that speaking up was best avoided. But I also witnessed the darker side of compliance.
At school in the U.K., I saw teachers misuse their authority, even physically punishing "bad" students under the guise of maintaining order. Later, I read Stanley Milgram's infamous obedience experiments, where participants administered what they believed to be life-threatening electric shocks to others simply because they were told to. These experiences made me question why defiance was often vilified and why obedience was celebrated, even when it caused harm.
A defining moment came in 2020 with the murder of George Floyd. Watching rookie police officers comply with their superior's orders, even as those orders caused unimaginable harm, brought echoes of Milgram's subjects to life. It was a sobering reminder of how deeply ingrained - and dangerous - our propensity for compliance can be.
Throughout my life, I've felt a tension between the need to act in accordance with my values and the pressure to be seen as "good." Writing "Defy" was my way of addressing that tension and sharing what I've learned through decades of research and personal experience.
Q: The act of defiance has negative connotations (i.e., a child who defies their teacher) but isn't it really a positive, affirming act when employed in the name of your beliefs and values?
A: Absolutely. Defiance is often misunderstood as rebellion for rebellion's sake or as a purely disruptive act. But true defiance is deeply constructive: It's about alignment - saying "no" to what doesn't serve your values and "yes" to integrity and truth.
When employed thoughtfully, defiance isn't about chaos or disobedience; it's about courage and clarity. It can create positive ripples in workplaces, relationships and communities, shifting norms and opening up space for fairness, inclusion and progress. Even small acts of defiance, like speaking up in a meeting or questioning an unfair policy, can lead to meaningful change.
Q: What do you hope the average person, who might hesitate to display defiance, takes away from your book?
A: I hope they come away with a sense of empowerment and possibility. Defiance doesn't have to be loud or dramatic - it can be quiet and deeply personal. It's not about being naturally bold or fearless; it's a skill anyone can learn and practice.
I want readers to see that defiance isn't a final dramatic act. Even the smallest acts of alignment, like setting a boundary or asking a critical question, can build confidence over time and inspire others to do the same. My hope is that hesitant readers will feel encouraged to take those first steps and realize that they have more agency than they think.
Q: This really is a workbook of sorts, isn't it? There's a glossary and a guide to defiance in the appendix; why did you feel it was important to include those?
A: "Defy" is as much a guide as it is a narrative. I wanted readers to walk away not just inspired but equipped. The glossary gives people new language to understand, for example, the different stages of defiance, making the concepts more accessible.
The guide to defiance in the appendix is a practical tool for readers to take what they've learned and apply it in their own lives. Whether it's framing a conversation, recognizing moments of misalignment, or navigating resistance, the guide offers concrete steps to translate the book's ideas into action. Defiance is a practice, and I wanted to provide readers with resources to make it part of their daily lives.
