Why does modern life revolve around goals? From funding science to improving children's education – and nearly everything in between – our society is obsessed with a seductive illusion: that greatness results from the relentless measurement of improvements in the unyielding pursuit of an ambitious goal. In "Why Greatness Can't Be Planned," Stanley and Lehman begin with a surprising scientific discovery in the field of artificial intelligence, which ultimately leads to the conclusion that the obsession with goals has gone too far. They argue that great achievements cannot be squeezed into mechanical metrics; that innovation is not driven by narrowly focused heroic efforts; and that we would be wiser (and the results better) if we fully embraced serendipitous discovery and playful creativity instead. Controversial at its core, but refreshingly provocative, this book challenges conventional thinking.