• The Icarus Deception

  • How High Will You Fly?
  • By: Seth Godin
  • Narrated by: Seth Godin
  • Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,685 ratings)

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The Icarus Deception  By  cover art

The Icarus Deception

By: Seth Godin
Narrated by: Seth Godin
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Publisher's summary

What are you afraid of?

The old rules: Play it safe. Stay in your comfort zone. Find an institution, a job, a set of rules to stick to. Keep your head down. Don't fly too close to the sun.

The new truth: It's better to be sorry than safe. You need to fly higher than ever.

In his bravest and most challenging book yet, Seth Godin shows how we can thrive in an economy that rewards art, not compliance. He explains why true innovators focus on trust, remarkability, leadership, and stories that spread. And he makes a passionate argument for why you should be treating your work as art.

Art is not a gene or a specific talent. It's an attitude, available to anyone who has a vision that others don't, and the guts to do something about it. Steve Jobs was an artist. So were Henry Ford and Martin Luther King, Jr. To work like an artist means investing in the things that scale: creativity, emotional labor, and grit. The path of the artist isn't for the faint of heart - but Godin shows why it's your only chance to stand up, stand out, and make a difference.

The time to seize new ground and work without a map is now. So what are you going to do?

©2012 Seth Godin (P)2012 Random House Audio

What listeners say about The Icarus Deception

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Inspirational and relatable

Awesome. Enjoyed every minute and am convinced I will now take action to produce my own art. Very true about the Fraud aspect.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Launching off Point

The Icarus Deception is a useful tool for the individual looking to develop oneself and find meaning in their work. While it is not a guide for how to choose the right time/way to act, it is a great launch pad for self development. Combine this book with a handful of others that discuss philosophy and self development and you’ll be on the track to growing from within. Also, having the author read the story aloud allows the listener to gain a better understanding of the tone and the author does a great job at pushing home his point. Overall: 4.5/5 stars.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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This book wrote my book for me!

I've written two chapters of two separate books while listening. This book is why!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Inspiring!

This book encouraged me to go back to my art of writing! I hit the writers' block a few months ago and was doubting my ability to write. I am now motivated to write again and keep on writing. The art is in the creation and improvement and not in the applause!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Seth is brilliant!

I find Seth Godin’s work to be so insightful that some people may not fully appreciate it even after a few reads. His art (which is what it is) is incredibly valuable to me. I am honored to be in his tribe. He may not know who I am, but I will always appreciate his courage in writing what he writes! His audiobooks? Even better! Especially if you are a person with something to say and aren’t looking for it to just stay in your head or in your journal!

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Deception is just beneath the surface...

What made the experience of listening to The Icarus Deception the most enjoyable?

The narrator and the link of art/business...

What other book might you compare The Icarus Deception to and why?

Previous works of Goodin-enjoyable and applicable to business.

Have you listened to any of Seth Godin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have been reading other works, not listened to any before. This one was excellent and will lead me to seak out others for my commute.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The tale of Icarus.

Any additional comments?

At times the discussion of art in business does go on a bit long, but it is so worth the listen! The message hit home. Excellent book for anyone wanting to succeed.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Can't listen to it for more than 3 minutes.

What did you like best about The Icarus Deception? What did you like least?

Love Seth Godin...have been reading his stuff sine "Permission Marketing" when I was in college. But the voice he uses in this...the muted "whisper" and the (dare I say LAZY) way he finishes his words drives me NUTS!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice but way tooooooo long!

Any additional comments?

The idea behind the book is good but it is way toooo long. Seth keeps repeating himself over and over again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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This book is a work of Art!

What did you love best about The Icarus Deception?

I have listened to all of Seth Godin's book and have to say this one is my favorite. It appeals to the artists in all of us and reminds us that you too can create art. A great book for business people, musicians, bloggers, writers and anyone who would like to create something for the sake of creation.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Why?

Some great concepts. Not a guidebook by any means. But most of all...WHY does he insist on reading his own work?? He's awful. I've heard book reports in middle school read better.

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