Reverse Engineering Great Achievements: Reverse Engineering as a Path to Mastery

A groundbreaking approach that will forever change the way you acquire new skills, generate ideas, and think about success.
For generations, we have been taught that there are two paths to success — either talent or hard work. Ron Friedman reveals a very important third path taken by celebrities of all kinds, from artists, writers, and chefs to athletes, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
Reverse engineering is when we not only see what is on the surface but also try to look into the essence of the matter and discover what is hidden behind it. It is the ability to taste a delicious dish and learn its recipe, to hear a beautiful melody and understand the sequence of chords, to watch a movie and grasp its narrative arc.
Using examples of outstanding masters in their fields (from Agatha Christie and Andy Warhol to Barack Obama and Serena Williams) and considering the latest scientific research on identifying patterns and regularities, acquiring skills, and factors of creative genius, Friedman demonstrates the tremendous potential of reverse engineering and explains how each of us can harness its power.
You will learn to dissect brilliant achievements from various fields, determine what exactly contributed to their success, and then apply this knowledge to develop your own innovative ideas, techniques, and products. Along the way, you will meet a chef-detective who reveals the most secret recipes, a robber who, after visiting a bank, recreates its layout from memory, and a famous artist who, without any education, paved his way to the heights of fame.
Filled with unforgettable stories and practical strategies, this book will be an indispensable guide that allows you to learn from the best, refine your skills, and bring any ideas to life.