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How to Fly a Horse
336 pages, 2015
business & management
1082 books
science & nature
1064 books
technology
392 booksUntil now, we've never fully understood the nature of creation. Kevin Ashton, a technology and robotics pioneer who has experienced firsthand the all-consuming challenge of creating something new, demystifies this sacred act in How to Fly a Horse.
Beginning with his own sometimes-fruitless efforts to create robots at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab, Ashton leads us on a journey through history’s greatest creations to uncover the surprising truth behind who creates and how they do it. From the crystallographer’s laboratory where DNA secrets were first revealed by a long-forgotten woman to the bicycle shop where the Wright brothers set out to “fly a horse,” Ashton showcases the seemingly unremarkable individuals, gradual steps, multiple failures—and countless ordinary and usually uncredited acts—that lead to humanity’s greatest breakthroughs.
Drawing on examples from Michelangelo to Japanese origami masters, Galileo to Oprah Winfrey, and Kekule to Coco Chanel, Ashton explores human creativity from every angle in this highly original and moving book.
In 'How to Fly a Horse', Kevin Ashton explores the idea that creativity isn't a magical talent bestowed upon a select few. Instead, he argues that it's a process anyone can learn. Ashton encourages readers to see creativity as a series of steps that can be practiced and improved upon, rather than a mysterious gift.
Ashton emphasizes that innovation isn't about sudden flashes of genius, but about hard work and persistence. He suggests that the most successful innovators are those who are willing to put in the time and effort to refine their ideas and overcome obstacles.
One of the key takeaways from 'How to Fly a Horse' is the importance of failure in the creative process. Ashton argues that failure isn't something to be feared or avoided, but a valuable learning tool. He encourages readers to embrace failure as a necessary step on the path to success.
Ashton debunks the myth of the 'lone genius' who single-handedly changes the world with a groundbreaking idea. Instead, he shows that innovation is often the result of collaboration and building upon the ideas of others. This book encourages readers to seek out and value the contributions of others in their creative endeavors.
In 'How to Fly a Horse', Ashton emphasizes the power of taking small steps towards your goals. He suggests that big breakthroughs often come from a series of small, incremental changes rather than one giant leap. This book encourages readers to break down their goals into manageable steps and to celebrate each small victory along the way.
Quotes 3
Kevin Ashton's 'How to Fly a Horse' is a passionate and deeply researched journey through the process of creation. It shatters the myth that big ideas spring from nothing. In fact, it shows in a wonderfully entertaining way, that breakthrough ideas most often come from a process of hard work, as guided by the human instinct to create.
Bill Gates - Microsoft Co-founderAshton's 'How to Fly a Horse' is a spirited and insightful examination of the misconceptions we have about creativity and how it really works. It dismantles the myth that innovation is invention by a lone genius and shows that it is really about incremental improvements by teams of people.
Daniel Pink - Bestselling AuthorKevin Ashton's 'How to Fly a Horse' is a brilliant book on the creative process. It debunks the myth of the lone genius and presents a compelling alternative: the truth of great inventiveness is that it emerges from a series of small steps.
Adam Grant - Organizational Psychologist