How to Fly a Horse by Kevin Ashton Summary

How to Fly a Horse debunks the myth of innate creative genius, arguing that innovation arises from ordinary, incremental efforts. Kevin Ashton uses historical examples—like the Wright brothers and Rosalind Franklin—to show how collaboration, persistence, and problem-solving drive breakthroughs. The book emphasizes that creativity is a universal skill accessible through hard work, not a rare gift.

This book is ideal for entrepreneurs, artists, educators, and anyone seeking to demystify creativity. Ashton’s insights are valuable for teams aiming to foster innovation, individuals facing creative blocks, or readers interested in historical case studies of invention. Its practical advice applies across industries, from technology to the arts.

Yes—readers praise it as a compelling blend of inspiration, history, and actionable advice. Reviewers highlight its fresh perspective on creativity, calling it “one of the best books you haven’t read” for its balance of storytelling and practical frameworks. It’s particularly recommended for skeptics of the “lone genius” narrative.

Ashton defines creativity as an ordinary, iterative process involving problem-solving and persistence. He rejects the idea of “eureka moments,” arguing that breakthroughs like the Wright brothers’ airplane or DNA discovery resulted from accumulated small steps, not innate talent. Creativity, he asserts, is a universal human trait.

Failure is framed as essential to innovation. Ashton illustrates how setbacks provide critical feedback, using examples like Thomas Edison’s repeated experiments and Rosalind Franklin’s perseverance in DNA research. The book encourages viewing failure as a necessary step toward solutions, not a final outcome.

Key examples include:

• The Wright Brothers: Their iterative approach to flight, testing wing shapes and controls.
• Edmond Albius: A 12-year-old enslaved boy who revolutionized vanilla pollination.
• Rosalind Franklin: Her foundational but overlooked DNA research.
  These cases underscore collaboration and incremental progress.

The myth claims creativity is a rare, innate gift reserved for “geniuses.” Ashton argues this belief stifles innovation by discouraging ordinary people from pursuing ideas. He contrasts this with real-world examples of creators who succeeded through systematic effort rather than divine inspiration.

The book highlights how innovations—from the first airplane to DNA’s discovery—rely on building others’ work. Ashton stresses that no creation happens in isolation, citing teams like Jobs and Wozniak at Apple and the collaborative nature of scientific research.

• Prioritize effort over inspiration: “Time is the raw material of creation.”
• Embrace incremental progress: Break problems into smaller steps.
• Normalize failure: View setbacks as feedback.
• Collaborate: Share ideas early and build on others’ insights.

Unlike works focusing on “brainstorming” or innate talent, Ashton’s book grounds creativity in historical rigor and actionable processes. It complements titles like Atomic Habits (systems-driven growth) and Grit (perseverance), but stands out for debunking romanticized creation myths.

Some critics argue Ashton underplays the role of individual brilliance or serendipity. However, most praise his evidence-based approach, with one reviewer noting, “The book’s strength is its rejection of simplistic narratives in favor of nuanced, real-world examples.”

As a technologist who coined “the Internet of Things,” Ashton blends historical analysis with firsthand innovation experience. His entrepreneurial insights and MIT research lend credibility to the book’s arguments about collaborative, incremental creation.