
Invention
A Life of Learning Through Failure
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Narrated by:
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James Dyson
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By:
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James Dyson
About this listen
Dyson has become a byword for high-performing products, technology, design, and invention. Now, James Dyson, the inventor and entrepreneur who made it all happen, tells his remarkable and inspirational story in Invention: A Life, "one of the year's most relevant and revelatory business books" (The Wall Street Journal).
Famously, over a four-year period, James Dyson made 5,127 prototypes of the cyclonic vacuum cleaner that would transform the way houses are cleaned around the world. In devoting all his resources to iteratively developing the technology, he risked it all, but out of many failures and setbacks came hard-fought success. His products - including vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and hair stylers, and fans and purifiers - are not only revolutionary technologies, but design classics. This was a legacy of his time studying at the Royal College of Art in the 1960s, when he was inspired by some of the most famous artists, designers, and inventors of the era, as well as his engineering heroes such as Frank Whittle and Alex Issigonis.
In Invention: A Life, Dyson reveals how he came to set up his own company and led it to become one of the most inventive technology companies in the world. It is a compelling and dramatic tale, with many obstacles overcome. Dyson has always looked to the future, even setting up his own university to help provide the next generation of engineers and designers. For, as he says, “everything changes all the time, so experience is of little use”.
Whether you are someone who has an idea for a better product, an aspiring entrepreneur, whether you appreciate great design or a pause-resisting story, Invention: A Life offers you inspiration, hope, and much more.
©2021 James Dyson. All rights reserved. Originally published in Great Britain in 2021 by Simon & Schuster UK. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Performance
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Whole Foods Market's cofounder and CEO for forty-four years, John Mackey offers an intimate and provocative account of the rise of this iconic company and the personal and spiritual journey that inspired its remarkable impact.
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Amazing story about Whole Foods!(up there with Shoe Dog for best business book!)
- By Sachin Dalal on 04-02-25
By: John Mackey
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The Company I Keep
- My Life in Beauty
- By: Leonard A. Lauder
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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In his much-anticipated memoir, The Company I Keep: My Life in Beauty, Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of The Estée Lauder Companies Leonard A. Lauder shares the business and life lessons he learned as well as the adventures he had while helping transform the mom-and-pop business his mother founded in 1946 in the family kitchen into the beloved brand and ultimately into the iconic global prestige beauty company it is today.
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Enchanting & motivational
- By MB on 11-23-20
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Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A
- How Faith, Cows, and Chicken Built an Iconic Brand
- By: Steve Robinson
- Narrated by: Milton Bagby
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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During his 34-year tenure at Chick-fil-A, Steve Robinson was integrally involved in the company’s growth - from 184 stores and $100 million in annual sales in 1981 to over 2,100 stores and over $6.8 billion in annual sales in 2015 - and was a firsthand witness to its evolution as an indelible global brand. In Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A, Robinson shares behind-the-scenes accounts of key moments.
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Like an encyclopedia being read
- By Dave on 11-29-19
By: Steve Robinson
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My Life and Work
- By: Henry Ford, Samuel Crowther
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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The book that has inspired entrepreneurs for generations, not only is My Life and Work by Henry Ford a memoir of an American icon but it also shows the spirit that built America. Written in 1922, this work provides a unique insight into the observations, ideas, and problem-solving skills of this remarkable man.
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Surprising. The man is incapable of fluff.
- By Kindle Customer on 02-28-19
By: Henry Ford, and others
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Understanding the Inventions That Changed the World
- By: W. Bernard Carlson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: W. Bernard Carlson
- Length: 17 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
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Now, you can learn the remarkable stories surrounding monumental inventions - and how consequential these inventions were to history. Taught by Professor W. Bernard Carlson of the University of Virginia, who is an expert on the role of innovation in history, these 36 enlightening lectures give you a broad survey of material history, from the ancient pottery wheel to the Internet and social media. Along with recounting the famous inventions you might expect, this course explores a number of surprising innovations, including beer, pagodas, and the operating room.
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Great content but poor editing on the delivery
- By Michael on 12-22-18
By: W. Bernard Carlson, and others
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Grinding It Out
- The Making of McDonald's
- By: Ray Kroc, Robert Anderson
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Few entrepreneurs can claim to have radically changed the way we live, and Ray Kroc is one of them. His revolutions in food-service automation, franchising, shared national training, and advertising have earned him a place beside the men and women who have founded not only businesses, but entire empires. But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business man is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 years old when he opened his first franchise.
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great book annoying narration
- By Brandon on 12-20-18
By: Ray Kroc, and others
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I Love Capitalism!
- An American Story
- By: Ken Langone
- Narrated by: Ken Langone
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Ken Langone has seen it all on his way to a net worth beyond his wildest dreams. A pillar of corporate America for decades, he's a co-founder of Home Depot, a former director of the New York Stock Exchange, and a world-class philanthropist (including $200 million for NYU's Langone Health). In this memoir he finally tells the story of his unlikely rise and controversial career. It's also a passionate defense of the American Dream - of preserving a country in which any hungry kid can reach the maximum potential of his or her talents and work ethic.
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Save your money, he clearly has enough!
- By Jared M. on 12-01-19
By: Ken Langone
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What It Takes
- Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence
- By: Stephen A. Schwarzman
- Narrated by: Stephen A. Schwarzman, Drew Birdseye
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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From Blackstone chairman, CEO, and co-founder Stephen A. Schwarzman, a long-awaited book that uses impactful episodes from Schwarzman's life to show listeners how to build, transform, and lead thriving organizations. Whether you are a student, entrepreneur, philanthropist, executive, or simply someone looking for ways to maximize your potential, the same lessons apply.
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A very boring self congratulatory victory lap
- By ---- on 10-26-19
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Jony Ive
- The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products
- By: Leander Kahney
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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The best-selling author of Inside Steve's Brain profiles Apple's legendary chief designer, Jonathan Ive. Jony Ive's designs have not only made Apple one of the most valuable companies in the world; they've overturned entire industries, from music and mobile phones to PCs and tablets.
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Was hoping to get to know the man behind the name.
- By Idan B. on 06-15-14
By: Leander Kahney
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Authentic
- A Memoir by the Founder of Vans
- By: Paul Van Doren
- Narrated by: Tony Alva
- Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Paul Van Doren is the founder of Vans - the shoe company beloved by skateboarders, creatives, and fans everywhere for its laid-back, colorful SoCal vibe, and famous for its people-oriented company culture. How did Van Doren establish a family shoe business that evolved into a globally recognized brand with annual revenue of more than four billion dollars? A blue-collar kid with no higher education and zero retail experience, Van Doren leveraged a knack for numbers, a genius for efficiency, and the know-how to make a great canvas tennis shoe into an all-American success story.
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Van Doren
- By Phillip V. on 05-18-21
By: Paul Van Doren
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Built from Scratch
- How a Couple of Regular Guys Grew The Home Depot from Nothing to $30 Billion
- By: Bernie Marcus, Arthur Blank, Bob Andelman
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Built from Scratch is the story of how two incredibly determined and creative people - and their associates - built a business from nothing to 761 stores and $30 billion in sales in a mere 20 years. Built from Scratch tells many colorful stories associated with The Home Depot's founding and meteoric rise; shows that a company can be a tough, growth-oriented competitor, and still maintain a high sense of responsibility to the community; and provides great lessons useful to people in any business, from start-ups to the Fortune 500.
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Bezos must have read this book.
- By Jensen on 06-22-17
By: Bernie Marcus, and others
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Never Enough
- From Barista to Billionaire
- By: Andrew Wilkinson
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Once a barista in a small cafe making $6.50 an hour, Andrew Wilkinson built a business valued at over a billion dollars by the time he was 36—and yet, his path to success was anything but a straight line. In Never Enough, Wilkinson pulls back the curtain on the lives of the ultra-rich, sharing insights into building a successful business that has been called a “Berkshire Hathaway, but for internet companies,” and a surprising first-person account of what it's actually like to become a billionaire.
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Fire Your Ghostwriter
- By Leah C. Day on 08-22-24
By: Andrew Wilkinson
What listeners say about Invention
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- EJ
- 07-02-23
Inspiring!!
Dyson’s story is amazing - as is often the case with innovators and entrepreneurs. He could have given up hundreds of times - and nobody would have blamed him - yet he didn’t. Stories such as this are a huge encouragement to me!
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- TerrisThompson
- 09-26-24
One of the best founders stories I’ve ever read!
This was an absolutely lovely book. What stands out the most to me is his passion and adaptability. It’s so difficult to be the Founder, keep the company private and still scale the way he’s scaled. Amazing story!
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- Bruce W. Jasper
- 09-22-23
Evolutionarily superb!
This book is an outstanding (not boring) biography, entrepreneurship book and life-philosophy book, as well as an exhilarating introduction to design and engineering. I loved every chapter!
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-05-23
Thank you god! For James Dyson
It’s his chapter on the “Future” that totally sets the stage for all people young and old to stop complaining and blaming others for all the wrong in the world. We are creatures of problem solving and we all need to get to working on solutions as Sir Dyson lives by.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Elimaes12
- 02-05-22
Brilliant and inspiring
Brilliant and inspiring book. Shows how important it is to dare going against the grain.
Also illustrates the importance of daring mighty things, not being afraid of failure, and experimenting a lot.
Admirable and inspiring that Dyson is sharing his failures.
Always a plus that it's read by the author. Although it would've been strange if he had wanted it any other way.
Main and to my opinion only downside of the book is that Dyson is very fond of Claas combines, although I see it more as motivating. 🙂
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- Aboey
- 10-04-21
great to hear from the inventor and founder himsel
lovely to hear the voices of his wife and son. got to know the man behind the biz and inventions. truly incredible his journey. I went out and got a dyson vaccum after listening to his story.
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- Nicolai Bak Jensen
- 12-09-22
Great look into the Dyson story
Great book, the only thing is the jump in the timeline which is a bit hard to follow on audio.
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- Anonymous User
- 06-28-23
Inspiring!
Very Inspiring, certainly validates the tribulations every entrepreneur faces. I very much recommend it,… am out looking for my first Dyson.
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- Shogun
- 09-25-21
Inspiring
I read his first book, and bought this as soon as I heard about it. Great listen, lots of wisdom to apply in the building of my own business and the products my team and I create. Thanks for the great insight into your life, triumphs and set backs James. Keep inventing. (And please make a fridge will you? )
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4 people found this helpful
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- keith Kirkland
- 06-27-23
A deeply personal and thoughtful look at failure as a springboard for growth
James Dyson and his 5127 prototypes are the fodder of industry legends, yet his modest and simple approach of try-learn try-learn is both timeless and rajah to follow. Well done.
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