Quirky: The Remarkable Story of the Traits, Foibles, and Genius of Breakthrough Innovators Who Changed the World

by Melissa A. Schilling Narrated by Erin Bennett

Overview

The science behind the traits and quirks that drive creative geniuses to make spectacular breakthroughs

What really distinguishes the people who literally change the world—those creative geniuses who give us one breakthrough after another? What differentiates Marie Curie or Elon Musk from the merely creative, the many one-hit wonders among us?

Melissa Schilling, one of the world's leading experts on innovation, invites us into the lives of eight people—Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Elon Musk, Dean Kamen, Nikola Tesla, Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, and Steve Jobs—to identify the traits and experiences that drove them to make spectacular breakthroughs, over and over again. While all innovators possess incredible intellect, intellect alone, she shows, does not create a breakthrough innovator. It was their personal, social, and emotional quirkiness that enabled true genius to break through—not just once but again and again.

Nearly all of the innovators, for example, exhibited high levels of social detachment that enabled them to break with norms, an almost maniacal faith in their ability to overcome obstacles, and a passionate idealism that pushed them to work with intensity even in the face of criticism or failure. While these individual traits would be unlikely to work in isolation—being unconventional without having high levels of confidence, effort, and goal directedness might, for example, result in rebellious behavior that does not lead to meaningful outcomes—together they can fuel both the ability and drive to pursue what others deem impossible.

Schilling shares the science behind the convergence of traits that increases the likelihood of success. And, as Schilling also reveals, there is much to learn about nurturing breakthrough innovation in our own lives—in, for example, the way we run organizations, manage people, and even how we raise our children.

Editorial Reviews

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile

Steve Jobs didn't have furniture in his home, and Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, bought his own island. Scientists Albert Einstein and Marie Curie were both introverts. The author guides listeners through the lives of innovators past and present to show the differences that drove them. Erin Bennett narrates with admiration for the "sheer force of will" that helped Elon Musk develop reusable rockets. Bennett delivers a lively reading of the innovators' biographies. The author uses the life stories to illustrate traits such as idealism or openness to experience. The stories will be familiar to listeners with a knowledge of history or business news. Still, anyone who needs a boost might like being reminded of these innovators’ persistence when others might have given up. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile

Steve Jobs didn't have furniture in his home, and Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, bought his own island. Scientists Albert Einstein and Marie Curie were both introverts. The author guides listeners through the lives of innovators past and present to show the differences that drove them. Erin Bennett narrates with admiration for the "sheer force of will" that helped Elon Musk develop reusable rockets. Bennett delivers a lively reading of the innovators' biographies. The author uses the life stories to illustrate traits such as idealism or openness to experience. The stories will be familiar to listeners with a knowledge of history or business news. Still, anyone who needs a boost might like being reminded of these innovators’ persistence when others might have given up. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170063062
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	02/13/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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