An inspiring book about what it means to be human as
we struggle for mastery in our various spheres. It's one
of the enduring enigmas of the human experience: many of
our most iconic, creative endeavours - from recent Nobel
Prize-winning discoveries to entrepreneurial invention,
and classic works in the arts - are not achievements,
but conversions, corrections after a failed past
attempt. 'The Rise' - part investigation into a
psychological mystery, part argument about creativity
and art, and part soulful celebration of the
determination and courage of the human spirit - makes
the case that many of the world's greatest achievements
have come from understanding the central importance of
this mystery for working and living at the height of our
capacity. Written over four years, this exquisite
biography of an idea is about the improbable foundations
of creative human endeavours. 'The Rise' begins with
narratives about figures that range from choreographers,
painters, inventors, explorers, and entrepreneurs;
Frederick Douglass, Samuel F. B. Morse, Diane Arbus, and
J.K. Rowling, for example, feature alongside
choreographer Paul Taylor, Nobel Prize-winning
physicists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, and
Arctic explorer Ben Saunders. Each chapter focuses on
the inestimable value of often ignored ideas - the power
of surrender for fortitude, the criticality of play for
innovation, and the propulsion of the ''near win'' on
the road to mastery, the importance of grit and creative
practice. While it is not a how-to book, it contains
important lessons for pedagogy and parenting, for
innovation and discovery, and for self-direction and
creativity. 'The Rise' is an inspiring book about what
it means to be human as we struggle for mastery in our
various spheres. |
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