Sleeping Beauties

Given his relentless positivity, it might be surprising that David Byrne's new book Sleeping Beauties is devoted to failure – to artists who were ignored or laughed at; to ideas deemed unorthodox or impossible; to ways of thinking about the world that, for various reasons, were wiped from our collective memory banks.

However, far from being a depressing read, this is a fascinating look at the ways in which good ideas can go dormant and the ways in which they reawaken. Whether it's ideas like dark matter, solar panels, or the steam engine, many of the people we now recognise for their important discoveries initially got little traction for their work. Using three-dozen case studies drawn from across centuries, Byrne shines a light on these important breakthroughs in the hopes that we will be better able to recognise them in the future.

Well researched and written in his inimitable wry prose style, David Byrne offers up a hopeful and inspiring celebration of human endeavour. Perfect for fans of history, art, technology, and science.

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Who wrote it?
David Byrne

How does it come?
Hardback,  24 × 16 × 4 cm, 388 pages.