The Icarus Deception

How High Will You Fly?

By: Seth Godin

Narrated by: Seth Godin

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

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

A Disturbing Book - and That Isn't All Bad

What did you love best about The Icarus Deception?

The Icarus Deception is an intellectual roller coaster, especially when listening to it, not reading it. There were perspectives that I so totally agreed with that the words that could have been my own and there were those which were absolutely counter to my world view. This is both a troubling and an inspiring book - and I suspect that is Seth Godin's intent.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Icarus Deception?

What three words best describe Seth Godin’s voice?

This is a long, long, audio book and I had sometimes to just take a break from Godin's intense, in-your-face, style. This may be one of those books that are easier to read, when the voice in your head is your own.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

There are several key ideas that I have taken from this book. First is the idea of resistance which is built upon Steven Pressfield's War of Art. So many times I feel that reluctance to get past the busy work of emails, voice-mails, meetings and chit chat to sit down and engage in substantive work that means something. Godin captures this dynamic so well. In like vein is Godin's idea of "shipping." This is placing our work product, our art, out into the world. Ship. Go. I hear his voice in my head and that is good. Finally, I appreciated the treatise on not being held captive to people's opinion and response to newly shipped "art" in the world. On the flip side, I think that Godin sets up a false dichotomy between the "industrialist" and the "artist." I personally think a world where everyone was an iconoclast would be just as dysfunctional as a world where everyone focused solely on the bottom line, quality standards, compliance, conformity, evolutionary development etc. In some places Godin seems to suggest that a person is either an industrialist drone or an artist. There is a lot of discussion about "the Industrialist"which sounds more like a political treatise than a motivational or intellectual one. In other places he suggests that both personas can coexist within us and the challenge is to be an artist and ship our work, work that is meaningful and connects.

Any additional comments?

All in all, if you are up for some serious intellectual engagement, listen to this book. If you want fluff, look elsewhere. Listening to and understanding this book takes effort.

Revealing & just what I needed

Seth reveals the new 21st century economy in such a direct & honest way that I think I really got it for the first time. Not another pop marketing strategy filled with jargon or strategies that will get you what you want.
Instead he methodically lays out the opportunity to do the work you've always known & wanted. Less of a kick in the ass or slap on the back than a personal, vulnerable invitation. Here it is. Now go do it.

Personally it rung the right chord. I'm settling Ng aside other inputs to repeat this one while I make my leap.

Every Parent Should Listen

Seth always keeps it real and The Icarus Deception is no exception. I love how he has changed the whole 'entrepreneurial mentality' into an artist mentality and gave plenty of advice for people who don't just want to be a cubicle inhabitor. I particularly liked the section where he gives advice to friends and family of people who have, what some may call 'wild cards' in their lives. That's the part that's especially good for parents.

A regurgitation of his other books

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

I love Seth Godin - my favorite author. Tribes...Linchpin...Purple Cow...Free Prize inside...Meatball Sundae...love all of his books and own all of the recordings.

Like another reviewer...20 minutes into it I had to shut it off.

#1 - His voice ... I LIKE the fact that he reads his books...it adds to it. In this recording, he is flat - has no enthusiasm and is almost whispering. It will lull you to sleep.

#2 - We've heard all of this stuff before from him. It's good stuff, but it's freshman year 101 Seth Godin material. I was expecting master's level material since he felt another book warranted.

I am bored with it and will move on. The rest of his books are OUTSTANDING, however.

Would you be willing to try another book from Seth Godin? Why or why not?

His books are the best out there. This one is a stinker.

What aspect of Seth Godin’s performance would you have changed?

He is whispering.

New Perspectives for Changing Times

What about Seth Godin’s performance did you like?

The writer truly believes in his work but the working world isn't as technologically advanced as much as Godin would like us to believe in the book - at least not yet. Just ask the hundreds of highly educated artists out there in the service businesses.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I have to think about the Icarus analogy - I mean no one should fly too high with complete abandon because they will eventually get burned - this is after all a timeless cautionary tale for a reason. It is a nice thought though and I'm sure it was for Icarus too. And although I'm sure that it is not practical for everyone's situation in life, this work is probably a good gift for a college student / high schooler who is artistic and business driven. Still, I am glad that I gave it time and a listen.

A must read for every entreprenuer!!

Such a smart writer. His words really spoke to my soul to help me in my journey to self I employment. Every business owner should read this!!

Indispensable reading

Plenty of stories and examples that motivates you to do what you’re always thinking of doing and never do.

Seth's Godin is a deep intellectual thinker who does not "drink the Kool-Aid".

Savor every word in this book. Go slow because you will get out of it exactly what you put in. This man is one of the highest level fingers on relationship management I have ever read.

To live like an artist

What an inspirational though, to live life as an artist. To make the personal connections and to live your life unscripted by others is the crux of Godin’s message in this throughly enjoyable read. Enjoyable because of the challenges he presents. Can I create the new? Can I explore off the map and draw my own? Can I be vulnerable enough to create with out fear of judgement? Thank you Seth for throwing down the gauntlet, challenge excepted.

Goosebumps!

Any additional comments?

I got goosebumps listening to the first section alone!!! This spoke to me louder than anything I have heard in a long time. I am so greatful that I just happened to stumble upon it. I was simply trying to find out who Seth Godin was after hearing a few of his top 10 quotes, my favorite being "We are all Special in our own way the moment we choose to be". But this book has truly been a gift.