Reading Converge: Rethinking the Way We Celebrate Success

I get Dr Catherine Ball’s point when she suggests we should celebrate scientists the way we celebrate sports. But in a way, I’m glad we don’t. As she writes, in sports, we often celebrate individualism, the idea that the winner takes it all, that only one person can be the best.

Science and innovation, on the other hand, are built on collaboration. Nothing great is created alone, despite the enduring myth of the lone genius. Even Isaac Newton, Einstein or Hawking stood on the shoulders of giants when they made their contributions to science.

Hence, it’s more meaningful to celebrate collaboration and embrace the idea of a non-zero-sum game, which is also the deeper message Catherine is making, among many other good points, in her book Converge.

Defo a good Sunday morning read for anyone who is curious about technology, the future, and our place in it.

Book: Converge by Dr Catherine Ball

About the author

Martin Tutko is a product designer by trade and a part-time philosopher by hobby. Thinking, researching and doing design since 1998. And as of 2023 also sharing and writing about some of my experiences as a product designer 🧑🏻‍💻🌟