The Icarus Deception.
Why do we recommend it?
A wonderful manifesto in Godin's characteristic style - pathological honesty, ruthless scepticism and generous intellect.
The book turns society upside-down in order to awaken the reader's rebellious spirit and encourage him to create. It tackles narratives like: Stop blaming the system. Defy the naysayers and press on. Stop trying to please everybody. The more you practise the better you get. Believing is seeing, Your worldview determines what you see in the world around. Motivates you right where it hurts the most.
Title:
The Icarus Deception. How high will you fly?
Author: Seth Godin
Year: 2012
Pages: 260
Author Seth Godin challenges the two conventional wisdoms — don’t aim too high and don’t aim too low either.
Everyone knows that Icarus's father made him wings and told him not to fly too close to the sun; he ignored the warning and plunged to his doom. The lesson: Play it safe. Listen to the experts. It was the perfect propaganda for the industrial economy. What boss wouldn't want employees to believe that obedience and conformity are the keys to success? But we tend to forget that Icarus was also warned not to fly too low, because seawater would ruin the lift in his wings. Flying too low is even more dangerous than flying too high, because it feels deceptively safe.
The safety zone has moved. Conformity no longer leads to comfort. But the good news is that creativity is scarce and more valuable than ever. So is choosing to do something unpredictable and brave: Make art. Being an artist isn't a genetic disposition or a specific talent. It's an attitude we can all adopt. It's a hunger to seize new ground, make connections, and work without a map. If you do those things you're an artist, no matter what it says on your business card.
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