Mothers of Invention: A History of Creativity from the Greek Muses

A rollicking, enlightening examination of the inspiration behind some of humanity’s most important milestones, written from the perspective of the Greek Muses. From Homer to Copernicus to Edison, the idea that a “lone genius” could be responsible for a groundbreaking masterpiece or remarkable breakthrough has pervaded historical accounts of human innovation—from Isaac Newton and gravity to Henry Ford and the assembly line. But this myth is as false as it is harmful, putting undue pressure on fallible individual mortals and eroding the value of true creative expression. Ideas don’t just form in a vacuum—they’re inspired! If you look close enough, the influence of the powerful and (mostly) benevolent Greek Muses can be seen in each of humanity's major inventions. In MOTHERS OF INVENTION, the Greek Muses reveal the role they played in humanity’s most important milestones—from using astronomy to make sense of the universe to harnessing of electricity to transform life on earth. In sharing their perspectives on human history, the Muses offer insights into the origins of religion, democracy, and physics, providing a more nuanced—and decidedly mythical—perspective on these monumental developments. The result is a compelling argument for looking at human history with fresh eyes—recognizing the power of collaboration and reframing what it really means when inspiration strikes.