Review: Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned

Curiosity is a Superpower, Embrace the Art of Aimlessness

Welcome to the Land of Goals and Objectives

Imagine for a second that life is a video game. Like any good player, you want to level up. But what if the game’s cheat code to achieving greatness was counterintuitive — like walking aimlessly instead of grinding through quests? Kenneth O. Stanley and Joel Lehman’s book, Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective, essentially says, “Put down the quest log, wander a bit, and watch what happens.” And before you roll your eyes, hear them out, because their argument is a delightful cocktail of science, philosophy, and “Wait, could this actually work?”

The Tyranny of Objectives

Here’s the premise: we’re obsessed with objectives. Want a promotion? Set a SMART goal. Trying to lose weight? Pick a target number. The problem, Stanley and Lehman argue, is that objectives often do more harm than good when tackling complex, open-ended challenges. Sure, goals are fine for simple tasks (putting socks on before shoes, but do you do sock, sock, shoe, shoe, or sock, shoe, sock shoe?). But for the big stuff — creativity, innovation, personal growth — objectives can actually block the path to greatness.

Why? Because the route to something truly extraordinary is rarely ever a straight line. Instead, it’s a tangled mess of twists, wrong turns, and unexpected detours. Objectives, by their nature, tether you to a specific vision of success, blinding you to serendipity — the magical, “Oh wow, I didn’t see that coming” moments that lead to breakthroughs.

Meet the Stars of the Show: Picbreeder and Evolution

To make their case, the authors take us on a tour of two unlikely heroes: Picbreeder and natural evolution.

• Picbreeder: Think of it as Tinder for digital art. Users evolve pictures by breeding images they find interesting. The kicker? The most stunning creations — like detailed faces or butterflies — emerge when users aren’t trying to make them. People simply follow what intrigues them in the moment, and voila, beauty happens.
• Evolution: The OG explorer of randomness. Evolution didn’t set out with a vision board saying, “Let’s create flying creatures and then humans.” Instead, it played an infinite game of trial and error, following curiosity wherever it led. Result? Birds, humans, and yes, even the platypus.

The takeaway: when you abandon rigid objectives and prioritizing exploration, both Picbreeder and evolution stumbled upon brilliance that would’ve been impossible to plan.

Novelty Search: The Anti-Objective Algorithm

If algorithms were people, novelty search would be that artsy, free-spirited cousin who travels the world with no itinerary. This search process rewards exploration for its own sake, rather than progress toward a goal. It’s messy, unpredictable, and shockingly effective. In robotics and AI, novelty search has repeatedly outperformed goal-oriented algorithms by discovering creative solutions that would’ve been overlooked.

Stanley and Lehman argue that we, too, should adopt a “novelty search mindset.” Forget the five-year plan. Instead, follow what sparks your interest and let the stepping stones reveal themselves. Curiosity is a superpower.

The Downside of Being Objective-Obsessed

Stanley and Lehman don’t just stop at algorithms — they throw society under the bus too. Their biggest target? Education.

Our schools, they say, are assembly lines for standardized test scores. Instead of fostering curiosity, we drill kids to hit arbitrary metrics. The same goes for science funding. When we only bankroll “high-impact” projects, we risk missing out on serendipitous discoveries. (Fun fact: the invention of penicillin was an accident. So was the microwave. Imagine a world without microwaved leftovers, especially pizza. Terrifying.)

So, What’s the Alternative?

The authors propose a radical but liberating idea: ditch objectives. Instead, follow your curiosity. Chase what feels interesting. This isn’t about being aimless; it’s about embracing exploration over destination. The authors call this the “non-objective principle,” and while it sounds like something Yoda might say, it’s backed by science and common sense.

Critics Gonna Critic

Of course, there are skeptics. Objectives can be useful — like when building a bridge or running a marathon. And the authors agree but caution that objectives crumble when tackling big, open-ended challenges. They’re not saying we should burn our planners and live like nomads — they’re just suggesting we loosen our grip on rigid goals, especially when exploring the unknown.

Embrace the Art of Aimlessness

Reading Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned is like having a deep conversation with a wise, maybe slightly crazy, friend. It challenges the way you think about success, urging you to trade ambition-fueled anxiety for curiosity-driven joy. Stanley and Lehman’s argument is bold but grounded, idealistic yet practical.

The real mic drop moment? They’re not just talking about abstract philosophy — they’re offering a new way to live. So, if you’re tired of chasing goals that feel like a carrot on a stick, maybe it’s time to take their advice: wander a bit. You might just stumble upon greatness.