How to trust and be trusted: 5 lessons

by Rachel Botsman

Trust is a word we use a lot. But have you ever learned how to make smart decisions about trust? How to earn the trust of other people? Or, how to repair trust when it breaks down? Rachel Botsman has helped the world’s brightest minds change the way they think about trust. Now, in How to Trust and Be Trusted, she shares those insights with you in five clear principles.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Leadership

Audiobook

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Rachel Botsman is a leading expert on trust in the modern world and the author of three critically acclaimed books - What’s Mine is Yours, Who Can You Trust? and How To Trust & Be Trusted. Rachel was the first Trust Fellow at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, where she currently teaches leaders and entrepreneurs.

Her TED talks have been viewed more than five million times and she is consistently voted the audience's favourite speaker by audiences at global events.

Rachel writes on trust and profound societal shifts for the Financial Times, The New York Times, Guardian, Harvard Business Review, and Wired. She also engages with over 92,000 subscribers through her Rethink newsletter. She was the host and writer of the BBC Radio4 series The Trust Shift, and her podcast Rethink Moments was nominated as one of the top five Best Business Podcasts of the Year.

Always driven by curiosity, Rachel is an artist and storyteller at heart after studying art at the Ruskin School, University of Oxford. She reimagines historical artefacts to question our relationship with work, society and each other, most recently through her Roots of Trust installation at the London Design Biennale (2025).

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really taken by Botsman's contention that transparency does not build trust, but rather replaces the need for it, and therefore must be applied intentionally. Blanket transparency ultimately undermines our stamina for trust and our willingness to take the kind of "trust leaps" necessary for innovation.

The content was good, but the format felt a bit over-produced for my taste.

[Ajay Misra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely gave me a new perspective on trust in all areas of my life. The audiobook’s immersive storytelling and interviews made the lessons feel personal and actionable.

It changed how I approach my romantic relationship, improving how I communicate and build trust with my girlfriend. It also reshaped how I interact in business, helping me better navigate relationships with colleagues, mentors, and those I lead.

A practical and insightful read that makes you rethink how trust shapes every connection you have.
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[Karana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good high level review of trust in the workplace with questions and takeaways. Engaging audio read by author and guest speakers. Gives you a better understanding of how trust breaks down with employees and how to repair. “Compliance alone will never get the culture you want.” Great section on transparency.

[mike m · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe more like 3.5 stars. it's like a long podcast [audiobook], not sure I got more out of it by having the whole book. I did like the clarity that you can't "build trust" (the phrase that everyone uses), you can only make yourself trustworthy and then it's *entirely* up to the other person how much they will trust you

[Sammy Mohamad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked listening to this book! Rachel Botsman, the author, did a fantastic job writing and recording this book. The book also had lots of amazing advice that I plan to use in my real life. I recommend this book to pretty much everyone!

[faina · Rating 3 out of 5]

audio. didn't finish