by Juvoni Beckford@juvoni
Before readingWhy I picked it up
I think of myself as a goal oriented and compulsive planner. I like to attempt to predict the future, even though it's futile most of the time. The title of this book is what first drew my attention, I came across it through some twitter recommendations. I picked up this book to challenge my perspective on goal setting.
After readingPosted
I LOVE books that counter my views or opinions on things and challenge my belief window. This book convincingly argues that fixed objectives and goals don’t lead to greatness as much as we believe. It argues that rigid planning stifles creativity and adaptability, which are essential for truly innovative achievements.
True greatness emerges from embracing spontaneity and flexibility rather than strictly adhering to predetermined plans. A lot to process from this book, but surprisingly I’ve been coming to similar conclusions based on how I’ve lived in the last 4 yrs.
Three reasons to read it
- Insight into the process of innovating.
- An alternative perspective of how goals can get in the way of creativity.
- Historical perspective on how major innovations came to be.
Notable quotesKenneth O. StanleyMore in Quotes
Great invention is defined by the realization that the prerequisites are in place, laid before us by predecessors with entirely unrelated ambitions, just waiting to be combined and enhanced.
Objectives might sometimes provide meaning or direction, but they also limit our freedom and become straitjackets around our desire to explore. After all, when everything we do is measured against its contribution to achieving one objective or another, it robs us of the chance for playful discovery.
Almost no prerequisite to any major invention was invented with that invention in mind.
The idea that all our pursuits can be distilled into neatly-defined objectives and then almost mechanically pursued offers a kind of comfort against the harsh unpredictability of life.
So even though vacuum tubes are a key stepping stone on the road to computers, few if any could see it coming.[..] The problem is that the stepping stone does not resemble the final product.
Notes for this book are still being transcribed.
