Alexander Puutio

World Spanish rights for THE CURIOSITY CODE acquired by PRH Mexico!

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We are thrilled to let you know, in the post-Gothenburg and pre-Frankfurt Book Fair buzz, that the World Spanish rights for Dr. Alexander Puutio’s THE CURIOSITY CODE have been acquired by PRH Mexico in an auction! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlback Agency in collaboration with our co-agent Anna Ascolies at IMC Agencias.

The title is drawing very strong interest in France, Germany, Norway, Estonia, Italy, Sweden, Japan and the rights have been sold to 8 languages!

“The Curiosity Code outlines a new path to success—one that is neither linear nor vertical, but rather flexible and, above all, realistic and within reach of most people. It is the book we should have read when choosing our career, and the one that ought to accompany us throughout our professional journey. We are very happy to be the future publishers of the book in Spanish language.” – Ana María Bermúdez – Penguin Random House Mexico

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

What if the very playbook we’ve been handed for success – grit, passion, specialization – isn’t just incomplete, but entirely counterproductive to a fulfilling life? The Curiosity Code is a practical guide to thriving in a world of constant change by teaching readers how to use curiosity, not rigid career ladders, as the engine for reinvention, resilience, and meaning.

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
UK & Commonwealth: The Bodley Head (PRH UK) (orig.)
BRAZIL: Companhia das Letras/Objetiva (PRH Brazil)
GREECE: Psichogios
KOREA: Seosamdok
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
POLAND: Otwarte
ROMANIA: Publica
WORLD SPANISH: PRH Mexico

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

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Two New Deals for THE CURIOSITY CODE: PRH UK’s The Bodley Head (UK) and Seosamdok (Korea) Win Auctions

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We are thrilled to announce that UK & Commonwealth rights to Alexander Puutio’s THE CURIOSITY CODE have been sold in auction to The Bodley Head, Penguin Random House UK, who will be the primary publisher for the title. This deal was closed by Martti Berner and Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

In addition, the Korean rights were also sold in auction to Seosamdok. This deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani in collaboration with our co-agents at Danny Hong Agency.

These follow the two previous auctions: Dutch rights with HarperCollins Holland and Greek rights with Psichogios. In total, THE CURIOSITY CODE has now been sold in seven territories within just one month, with pre-empts in Romania (Publica), Poland (Otwarte), and Brazil (Objetiva).

Meanwhile, the Spanish auction for the rights is also underway, with first offers anticipated later this week. Stay tuned for more!

We now have two English sample chapters of the book and a proposal! Rights are still available for France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Nordics, etc! 

 

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS FOR THE CURIOSITY CODE HERE

For decades, we’ve been told that specialization, grit, and mastering a single craft are the keys to success. However, success stories like Warren Buffet, Jack Ma, and Marc Benioff suggest a different formula: breadth over specialization, questions over certainty. And most important of all, an insatiable sense of curiosity that leads from one rabbit hole to another.

In The Curiosity Code, Ph.D. Alexander Puutio draws on his research at Harvard spanning 550+ assessments of global CEOs, a colorful career lived across disciplines (including three PhDs) to uncover what truly drives fulfilling lives. The answer isn’t found in the grind. Instead, it stems from weaponized curiosity: the courage to question, to pivot, and to explore without apology. Blending business insight, behavioral science, and lessons from Finland’s quietly radical “permission culture,” this book redefines success for an age where reinvention is not an exception, but the norm.

This book is a guide for anyone who’s ever been told they are too scattered, too unfocused, or too unconventional to succeed, and is ready for the validation they deserve. And for those who have bought into the cult of grit and the 10,000 hours, this book offers an invitation: to join a more rangeful, curious exploration of life.

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
UK & Commonwealth: The Bodley Head (PRH UK) (orig.)
BRAZIL: Companhia das Letras/Objetiva (PRH Brazil)
GREECE: Psichogios
KOREA: Seosamdok
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
POLAND: Otwarte
ROMANIA: Publica
SPAIN: TBA

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

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Greek and Dutch rights for THE CURIOSITY CODE sold in auctions!

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We are excited to announce that the Greek rights for THE CURIOSITY CODE: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change by Dr. Alexander Puutio have been sold to Psichogios in an auction! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency.

And even more exciting news: The Dutch rights for The Curiosity Code have been sold to HarperCollins Holland in an auction! The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency.

Psichogios Publications is the number one trade publisher in Greece with a publishing list of both adult and children’s books including such authors, in no particular order, as Margaret Atwood, Richard Osman, Jeff Kinney, Astrid Lindgren, Jonathan Franzen, Haruki Murakami, P. L. Travers, Roald Dahl, J. K. Rowling, Dr. Seuss, Kazuo Ishiguro, Agatha Christie, and many others. Their non-fiction titles cover a wide range of topics and feature authors such as Rob Dix (author of The Price of Money), Jeff Bezos (Invent and Wonder), Maja Goepel, Brian Dumaine, just to name a few. They are also the proud editor of the Harvard Business Review series.

HarperCollins Holland publishes non-fiction for a broad audience. Its books are both informative and engaging, combining accessibility with practical insights. The list focuses on personal development, covering areas such as health, psychology, business, and wellbeing. Highlights include Thomas Erikson, Jay Shetty, James Nestor, and Steven Bartlett.

The Curiosity Code has now been sold to five territories and counting!

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS FOR THE CURIOSITY CODE HERE

For decades, we’ve been told that specialization, grit, and mastering a single craft are the keys to success. However, success stories like Warren Buffet, Jack Ma, and Marc Benioff suggest a different formula: breadth over specialization, questions over certainty. And most important of all, an insatiable sense of curiosity that leads from one rabbit hole to another.

In The Curiosity Code, Ph.D. Alexander Puutio draws on his research at Harvard spanning 550+ assessments of global CEOs, a colorful career lived across disciplines (including three PhDs) to uncover what truly drives fulfilling lives. The answer isn’t found in the grind. Instead, it stems from weaponized curiosity: the courage to question, to pivot, and to explore without apology. Blending business insight, behavioral science, and lessons from Finland’s quietly radical “permission culture,” this book redefines success for an age where reinvention is not an exception, but the norm.

This book is a guide for anyone who’s ever been told they are too scattered, too unfocused, or too unconventional to succeed, and is ready for the validation they deserve. And for those who have bought into the cult of grit and the 10,000 hours, this book offers an invitation: to join a more rangeful, curious exploration of life.

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
BRAZIL: Companhia das Letras/Objetiva
GREECE: Psichogios
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
POLAND: Otwarte
ROMANIA: Publica

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

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Bibliography

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Brazilian rights pre-empted by OBJETIVA for THE CURIOSITY CODE!

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We are so thrilled to announce that the Brazilian rights for THE CURIOSITY CODE: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change by Dr. Alexander Puutio have been pre-empted by Objetiva, an imprint of Companhias das Letras! The deal was negotiated by Noora Al-Ani at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency in collaboration with our co-agent Anna Ascolies at IMC Agencias.

The imprint Objetiva specializes in quality popular and more serious non-fiction titles, all with a throughline of strong perspectives and engaging writing. Companhia boasts an impressive non-fiction list; some titles that come to mind include UNLEARNING SILENCE by Elaine Lin Hering, HIGH PERFORMACE HABITS by Brendon Burchard, ELASTIC by Leonard Mlodinow, OPTION B by Sheryl Sandberg, GLUCOSE REVOLUTION by Jessie Inchauspé, NUDGE by Nobel prize winner Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, and THE LIGHT WE CARRY by Michelle Obama.

Marcelo Ferron, publisher, Companhia das Letras’ imprint Objetiva (PRH Brazil) shared his thoughts:

“Alexander Puutio dives into a topic that has been widely discussed and analyzed: the power of curiosity as an essential tool for both business and life. Yet his approach stands out for its fresh and unexpected ideas, full of new insights. We are confident that The Curiosity Code will be a truly distinctive and compelling book.”

What if the very playbook we’ve been handed for success – grit, passion, specialization – isn’t just incomplete, but entirely counterproductive to a fulfilling life? The Curiosity Code is a practical guide to thriving in a world of constant change by teaching readers how to use curiosity, not rigid career ladders, as the engine for reinvention, resilience, and meaning.

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

 

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
BRAZIL: Companhia das Letras/Objetiva
POLAND: Otwarte
ROMANIA: Publica

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

Read more

Bibliography

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Polish rights pre-empted by OTWARTE for THE CURIOSITY CODE!

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We are so excited to announce that the Polish rights for THE CURIOSITY CODE: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change by Dr. Alexander Puutio have been pre-empted by Otwarte! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

OTWARTE is one of the leading trade publishers in Poland. They publish a stellar array of authors from prize-winning literary fiction and non-fiction to internationally bestselling crime writers.

What if the very playbook we’ve been handed for success – grit, passion, specialization – isn’t just incomplete, but entirely counterproductive to a fulfilling life? The Curiosity Code is a practical guide to thriving in a world of constant change by teaching readers how to use curiosity, not rigid career ladders, as the engine for reinvention, resilience, and meaning.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR CURIOSITY CODE HERE

For decades, we’ve been told that specialization, grit, and mastering a single craft are the keys to success. However, success stories like Warren Buffet, Jack Ma, and Marc Benioff suggest a different formula: breadth over specialization, questions over certainty. And most important of all, an insatiable sense of curiosity that leads from one rabbit hole to another.

In The Curiosity Code, Ph.D. Alexander Puutio draws on his research at Harvard spanning 550+ assessments of global CEOs, a colorful career lived across disciplines (including three PhDs) to uncover what truly drives fulfilling lives. The answer isn’t found in the grind. Instead, it stems from weaponized curiosity: the courage to question, to pivot, and to explore without apology. Blending business insight, behavioral science, and lessons from Finland’s quietly radical “permission culture,” this book redefines success for an age where reinvention is not an exception, but the norm.

This book is a guide for anyone who’s ever been told they are too scattered, too unfocused, or too unconventional to succeed, and is ready for the validation they deserve. And for those who have bought into the cult of grit and the 10,000 hours, this book offers an invitation: to join a more rangeful, curious exploration of life.

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
World Rights available.
POLAND: Otwarte
ROMANIA: Publica

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

Read more

Bibliography

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The Romanian rights to THE CURIOSITY CODE pre-empted by Publica!

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We are very happy to announce the first foreign sale for Dr. Alexander Puutio’s THE CURIOSITY CODE: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change to Publica in Romania! We are especially glad the publisher saw such an instant and strong match with the title. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency Agency in co-operation with our co-agent Antonija Radić at Corto Literary.

The Curiosity Code is a practical guide to thriving in a world of constant change by teaching readers how to use curiosity, not rigid career ladders, as the engine for reinvention, resilience, and meaning.

 

THE CURIOSITY CODE: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change

What if the very playbook we’ve been handed for success – grit, passion, specialization – isn’t just incomplete, but entirely counterproductive to a fulfilling life?

✓ A no-bullshit blueprint for a more meaningful life—by Finland’s most curious export that has taught leaders at Harvard, Columbia and NYU Stern

✓ In 2024, dr. Puutio reached 1,5 million readers with his columns on Forbes, Fast Company and Psychology Today, and speaking invitations from Adobe to Thomson Reuters

✓ Bold Nordic take on reinvention and permission: you don’t need approval to change paths – you just need curiosity

They told us to specialize and stick with it. But in a world of constant reinvention, that advice now feels like sabotage. In The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change, I draw on research from 600+ CEO interviews, insights from teaching at Harvard, and a life built across law, economics, AI, and VC backed startup world to uncover the simple truth behind resilient, fulfilling lives: they’re built in loops, not ladders. This book reclaims curiosity not as a childlike trait, but as a serious strategic edge in an age of AI and relentless uncertainty. Blending cognitive science, leadership insight, and surprising lessons from slime molds to Leonardo da Vinci, this is a call to those who sense there must be more to life, and a guide to finding it.

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
ROMANIA: Publica

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

Read more

Bibliography

Related news