The Rise

The Rise examines the role of failure, setbacks, and near-wins in the pursuit of mastery across multiple disciplines. Sarah Lewis draws from art, science, sports, business and other fields to explore how apparent defeats often catalyze innovation and achievement. Through interviews, historical examples, and case studies, Lewis investigates figures who transformed initial stumbles into breakthroughs. The book includes stories of Olympic athletes, inventors, artists, and entrepreneurs who used apparent mistakes or losses as foundations for later success. Lewis challenges conventional views of success and failure by demonstrating how they interrelate and feed into each other. Her analysis reveals patterns in how creative breakthroughs and innovations emerge from what may initially appear to be defeats or dead ends. The book presents a fresh perspective on achievement, suggesting that mastery comes not from avoiding failure but from embracing it as an essential part of growth. Its insights apply across fields, from personal goals to organizational leadership.

Readers note that The Rise takes an unconventional approach to failure and mastery through diverse examples from art, science, and history. Many appreciate Lewis's exploration of failure as a catalyst for growth and her examination of creativity through stories about Frederick Douglass, Samuel Morse, and various artists. Readers liked: - The range of historical examples and case studies - Clear connections between failure and innovation - Writing style that blends academic rigor with accessibility Common criticisms: - Structure feels scattered and disjointed - Some examples seem forced or tangential - Too much focus on art world examples - Ideas could be conveyed more concisely Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (130+ ratings) Several readers mentioned the book works better when read in small segments rather than straight through. One reviewer noted: "The ideas are important but get lost in meandering storytelling." Another praised the book's "fresh take on how setbacks lead to breakthroughs."

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Range by David Epstein The book presents case studies and research showing how setbacks and experimentation across multiple fields contribute to innovation and breakthrough discoveries.

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle Through neurological research and real-world examples, this work reveals the patterns of practice and recovery that build excellence.

Peak by K. Anders Ericsson This exploration of expert performance uncovers the specific methods and mindsets that transform initial failures into eventual mastery.

Grit by Angela Duckworth The research presented connects passion and perseverance to long-term achievement across multiple disciplines and pursuits.

🌟 Sarah Lewis is both an accomplished art historian and a faculty member at Harvard University, where she teaches classes on race, contemporary art, and culture. 📚 The concept for "The Rise" emerged from Lewis's experience as a student pilot, where she learned that failed attempts at landing are officially termed "near wins." 🎯 The book explores how some of history's most remarkable achievements came after significant setbacks, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s early speaking failures and Samuel F.B. Morse's unsuccessful career as a painter before inventing the telegraph. 🎨 The author was inspired to write about failure and mastery partly through her work as a curator at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. 🔄 Many of the book's key examples come from the art world, including how Arctic explorers used failed photography attempts to eventually capture the first images of the Northern Lights.