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Invention: A Life of Learning through Failure
Dyson has become a byword for great design, brilliant invention and global success. Now, James Dyson, the entrepreneur who made it all happen, tells his remarkable and inspirational story in A Life of Learning through Failure. 'By continually challenging ourselves, investing in the future and experimenting, we can continue to make the future. We must never stop. Never, for one second become comfortable.' James Dyson In this spirited autobiography, James Dyson interweaves his own life story with a wider exploration of the importance of invention. On the way, the reader encounters challenging and inspirational characters, radical inventions, adventurous engineering, cultural fads, political gamesmanship, legal battles and much else besides. A Life of Learning through Failure is a 21st century call to creative invention through the research, design and manufacture of technologies and products empowers not only employees and employers, but the economy at large, while the very acts of imagining, shaping and making things enriches our lives. James Dyson sees people as producers as well as consumers, the inventing and making of things part of a natural instinct. Invention is a lifelong commitment. It has been James Dyson’s life.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2021
454 people are currently reading
2424 people want to read
About the author
James Dyson
24 books65 followersSir James Dyson is a British industrial designer and founder of his company called Dyson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
October 29, 2025
Could be my favorite autobiography by an entpreneur/inventor. There are so many insights into as to how to best create a thriving longterm business, how to live a creative life and how to go against the grain. James Dyson invented the cyclonic vacuum cleaner and went onto create a company worth 6.5 billion pounds (in 2022).
I couldn't help but think of how closely Dyson aligns in the key personality traits needed for a entrepreneur: high in openness, high in conscientiousness, low in neuroticicsm, high in extroversion and disagreeableness. I can't imagine starting a business in the middle of a recession but Dyson did it. Dyson perpetually values people who are willing to test new ideas over experienced careerists, going against the grain and long-term thinking which is made possible by owning your company. I just love his perspective and wish I could be able to live like that as well. Dyson also believes that if you build a product than is better than your competitors, the consumer will notice it. He doesn't believe in focus groups: he believes in testing your ideas directly on the market.
The book is also a portrait of the period in which he lived which is interesting. Growing up after the second world war without a father, you had to be able to care of yourself and not rely on other people. His mother, it would seem, was relentlessly resourceful. She managed to raise three kids and eventually get a diploma from Oxford. I suppose the book espouses traditional middle class values (i.e. those found in Benjamin Franklings autobiography).
The only downside was perhaps all the information on all his inventions. That did not really interest me (as I am not an engineer, quite the opposite!), being instead more interested in business, creativity and how to live your values.
I couldn't help but think of how closely Dyson aligns in the key personality traits needed for a entrepreneur: high in openness, high in conscientiousness, low in neuroticicsm, high in extroversion and disagreeableness. I can't imagine starting a business in the middle of a recession but Dyson did it. Dyson perpetually values people who are willing to test new ideas over experienced careerists, going against the grain and long-term thinking which is made possible by owning your company. I just love his perspective and wish I could be able to live like that as well. Dyson also believes that if you build a product than is better than your competitors, the consumer will notice it. He doesn't believe in focus groups: he believes in testing your ideas directly on the market.
The book is also a portrait of the period in which he lived which is interesting. Growing up after the second world war without a father, you had to be able to care of yourself and not rely on other people. His mother, it would seem, was relentlessly resourceful. She managed to raise three kids and eventually get a diploma from Oxford. I suppose the book espouses traditional middle class values (i.e. those found in Benjamin Franklings autobiography).
The only downside was perhaps all the information on all his inventions. That did not really interest me (as I am not an engineer, quite the opposite!), being instead more interested in business, creativity and how to live your values.
September 20, 2021
“We should be encouraging the young to become doers, rather than virtue signallers, to help them strive to solve the problems of their age while looking forward to a better future”
“I wasn’t even trained as an engineer or scientist. I did, however, have the bloody-mindedness not to follow convention, to challenge experts and to ignore Doubting Thomases”
Hear Hear
“I wasn’t even trained as an engineer or scientist. I did, however, have the bloody-mindedness not to follow convention, to challenge experts and to ignore Doubting Thomases”
Hear Hear
September 9, 2021
I was always a big fan of Dyson products and this book pretty much solidified my views about the company. They really care about engineerins details and will go against the grain if it means they might create a better product. They believe in family ownership of the company which I could not agree more. I see Dyson's values as a sort of hybrid between Apple and Patagonia.
Though there are many things I disagree with James - mainly patents. He thinks they should be easier to get and longer lasting to increase competitive advantage of companies / patent owners. I think this would increase patent trolls and be a huge net negative. He claims no one would invest time and money into producing things if patents would be less protected. But we only need to look at open source software or Wikipedia to see that is clearly not the case.
He's also a proponent for Brexit since he claims European countries always want to get their own way and since there is so much lobbying going on in EU that ends up hurting Dyson. While I agree that there's way too much lobbying and it being detrimental to EU citizens, it's naïve to believe same thing does and will not happen in UK alone. Also, precisely because UK always wants things their own way, is why we all ended up in this mess.
But all in all it is a good autobiography and I can certainly recommend a read.
Though there are many things I disagree with James - mainly patents. He thinks they should be easier to get and longer lasting to increase competitive advantage of companies / patent owners. I think this would increase patent trolls and be a huge net negative. He claims no one would invest time and money into producing things if patents would be less protected. But we only need to look at open source software or Wikipedia to see that is clearly not the case.
He's also a proponent for Brexit since he claims European countries always want to get their own way and since there is so much lobbying going on in EU that ends up hurting Dyson. While I agree that there's way too much lobbying and it being detrimental to EU citizens, it's naïve to believe same thing does and will not happen in UK alone. Also, precisely because UK always wants things their own way, is why we all ended up in this mess.
But all in all it is a good autobiography and I can certainly recommend a read.
Want to read
September 7, 2021WSJ review, by Henry Petroski:https://www.wsj.com/articles/inventio... (Paywalled. As always, I'm happy to email a copy to non-subscribers)
Excerpt:
The fact that James Dyson himself did not get a degree in engineering disproves the idea that Britain cannot produce some outstanding engineers. It certainly did so during the Industrial Revolution, the Victorian era, and World War II. What Mr. Dyson’s almost unique bootstrap achievement does confirm is his contention that the existing educational system in the West is not living up to its potential.
Maybe? Possibly TMI? I'll have a look, when the library gets a copy. I'm lukewarm about our Dyson stick-vac. PITA to empty the thing! And clumsy to use, as a Dust-buster. It does a good job, but I much prefer a bag.
Excerpt:
The fact that James Dyson himself did not get a degree in engineering disproves the idea that Britain cannot produce some outstanding engineers. It certainly did so during the Industrial Revolution, the Victorian era, and World War II. What Mr. Dyson’s almost unique bootstrap achievement does confirm is his contention that the existing educational system in the West is not living up to its potential.
Maybe? Possibly TMI? I'll have a look, when the library gets a copy. I'm lukewarm about our Dyson stick-vac. PITA to empty the thing! And clumsy to use, as a Dust-buster. It does a good job, but I much prefer a bag.
October 11, 2022
Kill me now ...
Faux modesty, tedious name-dropping, more tributes to 'wonderful people' than an Academy Award Ceremony ... utterly boring writing, interspersed with sales catalogue blurb.
I agree with his school teachers that English is not his strength.
This man whinges about the UK and tries to justify moving his manufacturing business out of the country whilst professing to be patriotic and praising all things Japanese.
A stunning lack of self-awareness from a man who clearly loves himself deeply.
Now I understand why so many women use rude, generic terms for men of a certain age. This is a good example of a supremely boring, self-satisfied individual.
Faux modesty, tedious name-dropping, more tributes to 'wonderful people' than an Academy Award Ceremony ... utterly boring writing, interspersed with sales catalogue blurb.
I agree with his school teachers that English is not his strength.
This man whinges about the UK and tries to justify moving his manufacturing business out of the country whilst professing to be patriotic and praising all things Japanese.
A stunning lack of self-awareness from a man who clearly loves himself deeply.
Now I understand why so many women use rude, generic terms for men of a certain age. This is a good example of a supremely boring, self-satisfied individual.
April 1, 2025
Perhaps the most inspiring and admirable entrepreneur and creator i’ve ever read about. a man who believes anything is possible and puts his heart and soul into his every endeavor.
i particularly appreciate the fact that he’s stayed married to Deirdre since 1968. it seems an extreme rarity that a man of such prominence and success would remain loyal to the woman he began building his life with.
i want to be like James Dyson when i grow up. :)
i particularly appreciate the fact that he’s stayed married to Deirdre since 1968. it seems an extreme rarity that a man of such prominence and success would remain loyal to the woman he began building his life with.
i want to be like James Dyson when i grow up. :)
September 10, 2022
This was a difficult book to read. There is a lot of technical details in the book which makes some the chapters a bit dry. I also felt that there was too much marketing to the DYSON company which was something I did not like.
The author tells his story from a career point view with few personal stories. He talks about his inventions and technology advancement. There was defiantly some struggle in his story which may inspire the reader. The author cites that he tested and built 5127 hand-made prototypes in order to make his cyclonic vacuum. I guess he tried to make it sounds like when Thomas Adison tested 1000 lightbulb to reach the final invention of his lightbulb. Anyway, the author sees inventions as: “More about endurance and patient observation than brainwaves”. He believes that people will learn far more by trial and error than by conventional educations. He sees failure as a necessity in the development of the mind and personality.
James Dyson is clearly a practical man. He did not excel in his academic studies but was excellent “stuff Maker”, hard worker and very creative. These qualities probably compensated for his weak academic performance. He studied Industrial Design in the Royal College of Art in London.. (5 minutes’ walk from the Royal School of Mines which I studied in). So, he was not an engineer by background but became one by practice.
He discussed a lot of aspects in his career, like vacuum cleaners, designing electric cars, farming and other technology research. He did not hide his conservative views about European Union and why Britain should not be part of it. He also showed that a lot of his company researches are secretive and he cannot discuss the details of them in the book.
He also shared his views on education and how the education in the UK deteriorated after WWII. He discussed how the British stopped innovating after WWII because the urgency of innovation has stopped after the war was won. He even claimed that English people currently look down on science and technology. He aggressively criticized the British Education system which in his opinion is falling behind in technology and science.
One thing that caught my intention is his talk about how he lost his father at young age. He pointed out that 85% of British prime ministers, and 12 US presidents including (Barak Obama & George Washington) lost their fathers as children. Then he said: “ Perhaps early loss can sometime inspire people to great achievements?”… Being a reader of autobiographies myself, I can attest to this statement. The majority of famous and accomplished people I read about in books are indeed orphans which makes me wonder… is there a link between being an orphan and success? Who knows .. maybe !
Few Highlights:
No longer can we lead life by repeating what we have learned and what has worked in the past.
Learning by failure is a remarkably good way of gaining knowledge. Failure is to be welcomed rather than avoided. It is a part of learning. It should not be feared by the engineer or scientist or indeed by anyone else.
One of the really important principles I learned to apply was changing only one thing at a time and to see what difference that one change made.
As Buckminster Fuller said, ‘You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.’
Learning by doing. Learning by trial and error. Learning by failing. These are all effective forms of education.
Education should be about problem-solving rather than retaining knowledge simply to pass exams.
I have got to the point where I truly worry if everything is going smoothly. It’s rather like being the US cavalry officer in an old western when he says, ‘I don’t like it, Sergeant − seems too quiet’ and immediately gets an arrow in the chest.
Those kind people totally missed the point. I didn’t work on those 5,127 vacuum cleaner prototypes or even set up Dyson to make money. I did it because I had a burning desire to do so
The author tells his story from a career point view with few personal stories. He talks about his inventions and technology advancement. There was defiantly some struggle in his story which may inspire the reader. The author cites that he tested and built 5127 hand-made prototypes in order to make his cyclonic vacuum. I guess he tried to make it sounds like when Thomas Adison tested 1000 lightbulb to reach the final invention of his lightbulb. Anyway, the author sees inventions as: “More about endurance and patient observation than brainwaves”. He believes that people will learn far more by trial and error than by conventional educations. He sees failure as a necessity in the development of the mind and personality.
James Dyson is clearly a practical man. He did not excel in his academic studies but was excellent “stuff Maker”, hard worker and very creative. These qualities probably compensated for his weak academic performance. He studied Industrial Design in the Royal College of Art in London.. (5 minutes’ walk from the Royal School of Mines which I studied in). So, he was not an engineer by background but became one by practice.
He discussed a lot of aspects in his career, like vacuum cleaners, designing electric cars, farming and other technology research. He did not hide his conservative views about European Union and why Britain should not be part of it. He also showed that a lot of his company researches are secretive and he cannot discuss the details of them in the book.
He also shared his views on education and how the education in the UK deteriorated after WWII. He discussed how the British stopped innovating after WWII because the urgency of innovation has stopped after the war was won. He even claimed that English people currently look down on science and technology. He aggressively criticized the British Education system which in his opinion is falling behind in technology and science.
One thing that caught my intention is his talk about how he lost his father at young age. He pointed out that 85% of British prime ministers, and 12 US presidents including (Barak Obama & George Washington) lost their fathers as children. Then he said: “ Perhaps early loss can sometime inspire people to great achievements?”… Being a reader of autobiographies myself, I can attest to this statement. The majority of famous and accomplished people I read about in books are indeed orphans which makes me wonder… is there a link between being an orphan and success? Who knows .. maybe !
Few Highlights:
No longer can we lead life by repeating what we have learned and what has worked in the past.
Learning by failure is a remarkably good way of gaining knowledge. Failure is to be welcomed rather than avoided. It is a part of learning. It should not be feared by the engineer or scientist or indeed by anyone else.
One of the really important principles I learned to apply was changing only one thing at a time and to see what difference that one change made.
As Buckminster Fuller said, ‘You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.’
Learning by doing. Learning by trial and error. Learning by failing. These are all effective forms of education.
Education should be about problem-solving rather than retaining knowledge simply to pass exams.
I have got to the point where I truly worry if everything is going smoothly. It’s rather like being the US cavalry officer in an old western when he says, ‘I don’t like it, Sergeant − seems too quiet’ and immediately gets an arrow in the chest.
Those kind people totally missed the point. I didn’t work on those 5,127 vacuum cleaner prototypes or even set up Dyson to make money. I did it because I had a burning desire to do so
March 8, 2022
Can you imagine 5,127 vacuum cleaners? Because I can’t. I have no idea how he managed to fail 5,126 times and yet continued for the 5,127th time. The degree of determination and resilience he shows is astounding.
I love this book because of how his passion for design, engineering and art oozes through the pages. I am a sucker for illustrations so to have accompanying pages of his sketches, blueprints and designs was a big plus.
I’ve always thought Dyson products were expensive and never truly understood why you’d pay so much for it. Now I understand.
This book shares many important lessons. From the importance of keeping your designs yours, to finding the right people to work with, to believing in yourself. And even if you get all those things right, there are political mazes to navigate, layers of bureaucratic red tape, politicians who are all talk with no action. His struggle with the British system and views on manufacturing (a path frowned upon and viewed as second class) is definitely smthg he feels strongly for and is eager to see change.
I like this book because I like what James Dyson stands for.
I love this book because of how his passion for design, engineering and art oozes through the pages. I am a sucker for illustrations so to have accompanying pages of his sketches, blueprints and designs was a big plus.
I’ve always thought Dyson products were expensive and never truly understood why you’d pay so much for it. Now I understand.
This book shares many important lessons. From the importance of keeping your designs yours, to finding the right people to work with, to believing in yourself. And even if you get all those things right, there are political mazes to navigate, layers of bureaucratic red tape, politicians who are all talk with no action. His struggle with the British system and views on manufacturing (a path frowned upon and viewed as second class) is definitely smthg he feels strongly for and is eager to see change.
I like this book because I like what James Dyson stands for.
September 4, 2021
A very good book I enjoyed reading it James Dyson is a fantastic British inventor I never thought Dyson had so many things I had never heard of Dyson farming a recommend read 10/10
August 26, 2024
Arti 5*, jei būtų, tai būtų 4,5*
Viena geriau sukaltų asmeninių enterprenerio biografijų. Dyson'as mato pats asmeninės rankos pridėjo į savo biografijos rašymą - tą įrodo, kad Audible įdėta jo paties įgarsinta audio versija (nepatingėjo). Knygoje tikrai yra nemažai savo produktų promo, bet geras balansas su niuansais, kaip produktai buvo kurti, kurie politikai kaišiojo pagalius į ratus; viskas apvilkta ir gana ryškia asmenine nuomone apie pasaulio tvarką, politikus, verslo sąlygas ir pan. Nėra per daug savygyros ir gana mažai detalių - daug biznio ir kas aplink.
Viena geriau sukaltų asmeninių enterprenerio biografijų. Dyson'as mato pats asmeninės rankos pridėjo į savo biografijos rašymą - tą įrodo, kad Audible įdėta jo paties įgarsinta audio versija (nepatingėjo). Knygoje tikrai yra nemažai savo produktų promo, bet geras balansas su niuansais, kaip produktai buvo kurti, kurie politikai kaišiojo pagalius į ratus; viskas apvilkta ir gana ryškia asmenine nuomone apie pasaulio tvarką, politikus, verslo sąlygas ir pan. Nėra per daug savygyros ir gana mažai detalių - daug biznio ir kas aplink.
April 28, 2025
Fascinating story with nuggets of wisdom, but at points glosses over the early days (the multi-year “5,127 prototypes” process was covered in just a couple paragraphs) and at others felt like settling scores with critics and doubters in the British press.
September 20, 2024
Interesting first half about the beginning of Dyson. But lost interest towards the end.
October 11, 2021
In itself, nothing wrong with this biography.
However, it is hard to distinguish between the biography of James Dyson himself and that of his company.
I do enjoy the occasional business story, many excellent books in that category I’ve read before. This one though, you can tell it is written by the man himself. It is fairly dry, interesting in a clinical sort of way, pragmatic in how he regards the world and folks around him, and a very technological telling of the evolution of his company. Oh, right… it’s supposed to be a personal biography. It is, in a way, but what it seem to do.. is seem to be a 300 page commercial for all things Dyson. And it is hard not to admire in a way, because he is obviously passionate about it.. but it just seems so full of salesmanship, although that in itself is something he dislikes in an activity for himself.
As he has approached His business throughout the years, is simply explaining how his things work. He does this.. in depth.. all throughout the book. It took me longer to get through because I just kept losing interest, and I had two other very interesting books on the go. (I started and finished both during the period I had this book open).
I have a Dyson, yes it’s good, but I didn’t pick this book up to learn about how it was made. What’s next.. a book about how my microwave was built next? Pass.
On to an adventure.
However, it is hard to distinguish between the biography of James Dyson himself and that of his company.
I do enjoy the occasional business story, many excellent books in that category I’ve read before. This one though, you can tell it is written by the man himself. It is fairly dry, interesting in a clinical sort of way, pragmatic in how he regards the world and folks around him, and a very technological telling of the evolution of his company. Oh, right… it’s supposed to be a personal biography. It is, in a way, but what it seem to do.. is seem to be a 300 page commercial for all things Dyson. And it is hard not to admire in a way, because he is obviously passionate about it.. but it just seems so full of salesmanship, although that in itself is something he dislikes in an activity for himself.
As he has approached His business throughout the years, is simply explaining how his things work. He does this.. in depth.. all throughout the book. It took me longer to get through because I just kept losing interest, and I had two other very interesting books on the go. (I started and finished both during the period I had this book open).
I have a Dyson, yes it’s good, but I didn’t pick this book up to learn about how it was made. What’s next.. a book about how my microwave was built next? Pass.
On to an adventure.
December 30, 2023
Invention is James Dyson’s autobiography and story of how he failed over 5K times to design his ideal vacuum cleaner and how be built the company of Dyson we know today. It was a time when British ingenuity was in decline and a revamping of the education system was in order. Dyson worked tirelessly to start a university, drive innovation and research (even when it ran counter to the maximization of profit). Don’t get me wrong he worked hard to make sure he was profitable, but he was willing to take a risk that might not pan out when others would have taken the safer course. His foray into electric cars was well ahead of its time and his other technological ventures were a far wider portfolio than I expected having only know about the vacuum cleaner. He writes well with crisp prose and chapters that are focused. It is an interesting story and one that touches on many areas of life reflecting the changing mood of Britain throughout modern history. His foray into the United States was marked by costly litigation that was eventually settled out clearing the way for him to sell. Very interesting story for those interested in business history, technology and the idea of invention.
September 16, 2021
An excellent lookninto the life of one of the great modern inventors. The author's passion and drive rings through on every page. Although most will relate to the Dyson vaccum I found the other areas which Dyson have branch into even more interesting. Education, farming, cars; James thirst for the improvement of these areas is inspirational. Onwards and upwards! Thank you James for sharing your story.
November 12, 2022
I have found his designs interesting, ground breaking technologically and aesthetically. His struggles along the way show the perseverance and grit it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and I agree with many of his thoughts on technical education. A bit braggy but that seems true of almost all autobiographies.
February 3, 2023
I absolutely loved this book and James Dyson the person. His passion, persistence, style, approach, and desire to create are inspiring! I really enjoyed this read and hope to learn more about him in the future.
September 25, 2021
Boring at some parts. But great inventor journey
April 27, 2022
Gets a lot of bad stick, but he's such an inspiration! I think we could all learn a lot from his work ethic, curiosity, and pure optimism.
August 27, 2023
Good story, strong message and a lot of details
October 26, 2023
Usually love these kinds of books but didn’t vibe with it. Found it an absolute chore to get through. Felt like a bit of a Dyson ad the entire time too
January 22, 2024
Truly a very inspiring journey of a down to earth inventor. Worth a read for those who pursue their passion in building a meaningful life.
January 9, 2022
“It is a story told through a life of creating and developing things, as well as expressing a call to arms for young people to become engineers, creating solutions to our current and future problems.”
In Invention: A Life, Dyson describes his many failures as an inventor, the importance of mentorship, education, and self-reliance. The book explores his love for great design, scientists, innovators, engineers, and farming. The Book explores his constant desire to learn, fearlessness to step into the unknown, and an unflagging spirit of entrepreneurialism. Ultimately, it is a celebration of the role that young minds play in solving the world’s biggest problems, regardless of experience. 1
The book is a journey of an entrepreneur, the ups and downs, the value of having a supportive partner or spouse (Deidre), the importance of having a mentor (Jeremy Fry) that always pushes you to succeed, a dedicated financial institution or bank manager that is ready to take the plunge with you. His story shows how far determination, willpower, dedication, persistence, and perseverance can take someone with a commitment to succeed.
Dyson made 5,127 prototypes of his Cyclonic and Bagless Vacuum Cleaner before he got to a model he could set about licensing.
5,127 hand-made prototypes – One-Track Mindedness
“In 1983, after four years of building and testing 5,127 hand-made prototypes of my cyclonic vacuum, I finally cracked it. Perhaps I should have punched the air, whooped loudly, and run down the road from my workshop shrieking ‘Eureka!’ at the top of my voice. Instead, far from feeling elated, which surely after 5,126 failures I should have been, I felt strangely deflated.
How could this have been? The answer lies in failure. Day after day, with the wolf at the door, I had been pursuing the development of an ever more efficient cyclone for collecting and separating dust from a flow of air. I built several cyclones each day, conducting tests on each one to evaluate its effectiveness in collecting dust as fine as 0.5 microns − the width of a human hair is between 50 and 100 microns − while using as little energy as possible.”
“This might sound boring and tedious to the outsider. I get that. But when you have set yourself an objective that, if reached, might pioneer a better solution to existing technologies and products, you become engaged, hooked and even one-track-minded.”
On Failure
“Learning by failure is a remarkably good way of gaining knowledge. Failure is to be welcomed rather than avoided. It is a part of learning. It should not be feared by the engineer or scientist or indeed by anyone else.”
Folklore depicts invention as a flash of brilliance. That eureka moment! But it rarely is, I’m afraid. It is more about failure than ultimate success. I even thought of calling this book James Dyson: Failure, but was talked out of it because it might give the wrong impression. People want to read about success. Funnily enough, engineers who are good at inventing things are never satisfied with their latest creation. They tend to look at it quizzically and say, ‘I now know how to make it better’, which is a wonderful opportunity! This is the start of their reinvention, marking another leap in performance.
“Research is about conducting experiments, accepting and even enjoying failures, but going on and on, following a theory garnered from observing the science. Invention is often more about endurance and patient observation than brainwaves.”
On Curiosity
My tale is one of not being brilliant. I wasn’t even trained as an engineer or scientist. I did, however, have the bloody-mindedness not to follow convention, to challenge experts and to ignore Doubting Thomases. I am also someone who is prepared to slog through prototype after prototype searching for the breakthrough. If a slow starter like me could succeed, surely this might encourage others.
Curiosity – Experience is not the best teacher, it is the ability to maintain that curiosity that matters
I was naïve and eager to learn all that as I progressed. It was a steep learning curve, though, and still is. Everything changes all the time, so experience is of little use. I didn’t know that at the time and assumed that it would become easier with experience. It must be encouraging for those just graduating to know that is not the case. Fifty-two years later I can assure my graduates that I am no better for my experience.
“At Dyson, we don’t particularly value experience. Experience tells you what you ought to do and what you’d do best to avoid. It tells you how things should be done when we are much more interested in how things shouldn’t be done. If you want to pioneer and invent new technology you need to step into the unknown and, in that realm, experience can be a hindrance.”
If you want to pioneer and invent new technology you need to step into the unknown and, in that realm, experience can be a hindrance
Role of Supportive Partner and Network
The failures began to excite me. ‘Wait a minute, that should have worked, now why didn’t it?’ I was scratching my head, mystified, but then had another idea for an experiment that might lead to solving the problem. I was usually covered in dust, getting deeper and deeper into debt, yet happy and absorbed. Fortunately, my wife, Deirdre, allowed me to put our house and home life at risk, while the bank was kind enough to lend us money.
Long-Distance Running – Crossing the Pain Barrier
The first thing I knew I was good at, and something that I had taught myself as a teenage schoolboy, was long-distance running. Once through the pain barrier, I found I had the determination, or sheer bloody mindedness, to keep on running. Running, early in the morning or late at night, through that hauntingly beautiful landscape proved to be more than a ritual challenge. It was an escape from school, allowing me to think that anything and everything was possible.
Cross-Training
It was playing games, however, that taught me the need to train hard and to understand teamwork and tactics. The planning of surprise tactics, and the ability to adapt to circumstance, are vital life lessons. These virtues are unlikely to be learned from academic life and certainly not from learning by rote
Acting in plays, which I very much enjoyed, taught me about character, learning to express thoughts and to emphasise dramatically in speech.
Long-distance running allowed me the freedom to roam the wilds of Norfolk while depending on no one but myself. Running also taught me to overcome the pain barrier: when everyone else feels exhausted, that is the opportunity to accelerate, whatever the pain, and win the race. Stamina and determination along with creativity are needed in overcoming seemingly impossible difficulties in research and other challenges in life.
Running also taught me to overcome the pain barrier: when everyone else feels exhausted, that is the opportunity to accelerate, whatever the pain, and win the race.
Losing his father and Self-Reliance
“I felt the devastating loss of my dad, his love, his humour and the things he taught me. I feared for a future without him. Having recently become a boarder at the school, away from my family, I was suddenly alone. It didn’t do to cry or show emotion, just a stiff upper lip. Ever since, a part of me has been making up for that painfully unjust separation from my father and for the years he lost. Perhaps I had to learn quickly to make decisions for myself, to be self-reliant and be willing to take risks. Little could be worse than my father dying when he did.”
I had to learn quickly to make decisions for myself, to be self-reliant and be willing to take risks.
On Creativity
“It makes me sad and concerned that schools are failing to teach creativity. Yet life today demands it more and more. We need to create fresh solutions to seemingly intractable problems, to devise new software, to create something different in order to compete in the global economy. These abilities are a prerequisite today. No longer can we lead life by repeating what we have learned and what has worked in the past. The world, thankfully, is becoming better educated, and competition has never been so fierce. The advantage we in the West have relied upon for so long is being diminished. In order to stay ahead we need to focus increasingly on our creativity.”
In Invention: A Life, Dyson describes his many failures as an inventor, the importance of mentorship, education, and self-reliance. The book explores his love for great design, scientists, innovators, engineers, and farming. The Book explores his constant desire to learn, fearlessness to step into the unknown, and an unflagging spirit of entrepreneurialism. Ultimately, it is a celebration of the role that young minds play in solving the world’s biggest problems, regardless of experience. 1
The book is a journey of an entrepreneur, the ups and downs, the value of having a supportive partner or spouse (Deidre), the importance of having a mentor (Jeremy Fry) that always pushes you to succeed, a dedicated financial institution or bank manager that is ready to take the plunge with you. His story shows how far determination, willpower, dedication, persistence, and perseverance can take someone with a commitment to succeed.
Dyson made 5,127 prototypes of his Cyclonic and Bagless Vacuum Cleaner before he got to a model he could set about licensing.
5,127 hand-made prototypes – One-Track Mindedness
“In 1983, after four years of building and testing 5,127 hand-made prototypes of my cyclonic vacuum, I finally cracked it. Perhaps I should have punched the air, whooped loudly, and run down the road from my workshop shrieking ‘Eureka!’ at the top of my voice. Instead, far from feeling elated, which surely after 5,126 failures I should have been, I felt strangely deflated.
How could this have been? The answer lies in failure. Day after day, with the wolf at the door, I had been pursuing the development of an ever more efficient cyclone for collecting and separating dust from a flow of air. I built several cyclones each day, conducting tests on each one to evaluate its effectiveness in collecting dust as fine as 0.5 microns − the width of a human hair is between 50 and 100 microns − while using as little energy as possible.”
“This might sound boring and tedious to the outsider. I get that. But when you have set yourself an objective that, if reached, might pioneer a better solution to existing technologies and products, you become engaged, hooked and even one-track-minded.”
On Failure
“Learning by failure is a remarkably good way of gaining knowledge. Failure is to be welcomed rather than avoided. It is a part of learning. It should not be feared by the engineer or scientist or indeed by anyone else.”
Folklore depicts invention as a flash of brilliance. That eureka moment! But it rarely is, I’m afraid. It is more about failure than ultimate success. I even thought of calling this book James Dyson: Failure, but was talked out of it because it might give the wrong impression. People want to read about success. Funnily enough, engineers who are good at inventing things are never satisfied with their latest creation. They tend to look at it quizzically and say, ‘I now know how to make it better’, which is a wonderful opportunity! This is the start of their reinvention, marking another leap in performance.
“Research is about conducting experiments, accepting and even enjoying failures, but going on and on, following a theory garnered from observing the science. Invention is often more about endurance and patient observation than brainwaves.”
On Curiosity
My tale is one of not being brilliant. I wasn’t even trained as an engineer or scientist. I did, however, have the bloody-mindedness not to follow convention, to challenge experts and to ignore Doubting Thomases. I am also someone who is prepared to slog through prototype after prototype searching for the breakthrough. If a slow starter like me could succeed, surely this might encourage others.
Curiosity – Experience is not the best teacher, it is the ability to maintain that curiosity that matters
I was naïve and eager to learn all that as I progressed. It was a steep learning curve, though, and still is. Everything changes all the time, so experience is of little use. I didn’t know that at the time and assumed that it would become easier with experience. It must be encouraging for those just graduating to know that is not the case. Fifty-two years later I can assure my graduates that I am no better for my experience.
“At Dyson, we don’t particularly value experience. Experience tells you what you ought to do and what you’d do best to avoid. It tells you how things should be done when we are much more interested in how things shouldn’t be done. If you want to pioneer and invent new technology you need to step into the unknown and, in that realm, experience can be a hindrance.”
If you want to pioneer and invent new technology you need to step into the unknown and, in that realm, experience can be a hindrance
Role of Supportive Partner and Network
The failures began to excite me. ‘Wait a minute, that should have worked, now why didn’t it?’ I was scratching my head, mystified, but then had another idea for an experiment that might lead to solving the problem. I was usually covered in dust, getting deeper and deeper into debt, yet happy and absorbed. Fortunately, my wife, Deirdre, allowed me to put our house and home life at risk, while the bank was kind enough to lend us money.
Long-Distance Running – Crossing the Pain Barrier
The first thing I knew I was good at, and something that I had taught myself as a teenage schoolboy, was long-distance running. Once through the pain barrier, I found I had the determination, or sheer bloody mindedness, to keep on running. Running, early in the morning or late at night, through that hauntingly beautiful landscape proved to be more than a ritual challenge. It was an escape from school, allowing me to think that anything and everything was possible.
Cross-Training
It was playing games, however, that taught me the need to train hard and to understand teamwork and tactics. The planning of surprise tactics, and the ability to adapt to circumstance, are vital life lessons. These virtues are unlikely to be learned from academic life and certainly not from learning by rote
Acting in plays, which I very much enjoyed, taught me about character, learning to express thoughts and to emphasise dramatically in speech.
Long-distance running allowed me the freedom to roam the wilds of Norfolk while depending on no one but myself. Running also taught me to overcome the pain barrier: when everyone else feels exhausted, that is the opportunity to accelerate, whatever the pain, and win the race. Stamina and determination along with creativity are needed in overcoming seemingly impossible difficulties in research and other challenges in life.
Running also taught me to overcome the pain barrier: when everyone else feels exhausted, that is the opportunity to accelerate, whatever the pain, and win the race.
Losing his father and Self-Reliance
“I felt the devastating loss of my dad, his love, his humour and the things he taught me. I feared for a future without him. Having recently become a boarder at the school, away from my family, I was suddenly alone. It didn’t do to cry or show emotion, just a stiff upper lip. Ever since, a part of me has been making up for that painfully unjust separation from my father and for the years he lost. Perhaps I had to learn quickly to make decisions for myself, to be self-reliant and be willing to take risks. Little could be worse than my father dying when he did.”
I had to learn quickly to make decisions for myself, to be self-reliant and be willing to take risks.
On Creativity
“It makes me sad and concerned that schools are failing to teach creativity. Yet life today demands it more and more. We need to create fresh solutions to seemingly intractable problems, to devise new software, to create something different in order to compete in the global economy. These abilities are a prerequisite today. No longer can we lead life by repeating what we have learned and what has worked in the past. The world, thankfully, is becoming better educated, and competition has never been so fierce. The advantage we in the West have relied upon for so long is being diminished. In order to stay ahead we need to focus increasingly on our creativity.”
December 30, 2024
This book relates the history of James as much as the education on manufacturing and past its social stigma. I was surprised to learn of his passion for manufacturing, and how he has linked design heavily to design engineering.
His journey had been a wild one - and one who has suffered any creator’s nightmare - that is to have your invention and namesake all taken away from you. The result of his vision came from this grit and his true desire to invent and share it with the world.
I especially respect the fact that he trusts in experience, and especially so the spirit of those who is willing to share fresh ideas and the willingness to give one’s best.
One of the best lessons are lessons of the spirit. The best place to be is somewhere where you feel inspired to the soul level. “this is where I dared to dream… to become” this is what I yearn for the most, a space where I feel inspired to be my best, and more!
Where you can shine the most is where your path leads you, and to do that you must follow your own star. Nobody can put you on it but your own guidance.
His decisions in the company is fuelled by his experiences to protect himself. And often, the most intriguing experience is that sometimes you cannot believe in the proven theory, technique or system.
Often they turn out to either not work, give the opposite result or they just… fall flat. And hence he looks for the inexperienced, so one can do what’s not expected, done before, think our of the box! And that was how Dyson came to be. By doing the unexpected, going against the grain, doing somethjng ESPECIALLY BEING TOLD NO A MILLION TIMES AND THEN IT WORKS. That is the best part, and I feel the most true in this field. It’s all about communication and proving that your vision works. Because nobody will believe you first and foremost. You need to make it work and prove it. The theme on failure resonates so much with me.
“Here, I dared to dream that I could become…” - This is one of the most important feelings a place can invoke in someone, and this book invoked that in me.
“As an inventor, engineer and entrepreneur, he believed in taking on young people with no experience because this way he employed those with curious, unsullied and open minds…”
His journey had been a wild one - and one who has suffered any creator’s nightmare - that is to have your invention and namesake all taken away from you. The result of his vision came from this grit and his true desire to invent and share it with the world.
I especially respect the fact that he trusts in experience, and especially so the spirit of those who is willing to share fresh ideas and the willingness to give one’s best.
One of the best lessons are lessons of the spirit. The best place to be is somewhere where you feel inspired to the soul level. “this is where I dared to dream… to become” this is what I yearn for the most, a space where I feel inspired to be my best, and more!
Where you can shine the most is where your path leads you, and to do that you must follow your own star. Nobody can put you on it but your own guidance.
His decisions in the company is fuelled by his experiences to protect himself. And often, the most intriguing experience is that sometimes you cannot believe in the proven theory, technique or system.
Often they turn out to either not work, give the opposite result or they just… fall flat. And hence he looks for the inexperienced, so one can do what’s not expected, done before, think our of the box! And that was how Dyson came to be. By doing the unexpected, going against the grain, doing somethjng ESPECIALLY BEING TOLD NO A MILLION TIMES AND THEN IT WORKS. That is the best part, and I feel the most true in this field. It’s all about communication and proving that your vision works. Because nobody will believe you first and foremost. You need to make it work and prove it. The theme on failure resonates so much with me.
“Here, I dared to dream that I could become…” - This is one of the most important feelings a place can invoke in someone, and this book invoked that in me.
“As an inventor, engineer and entrepreneur, he believed in taking on young people with no experience because this way he employed those with curious, unsullied and open minds…”
January 13, 2025
Frankómetro: 92%
Pudo haberse llamado: Dora la Aspiradora
Lo recomienda: Ole Kirk Christiansen
Leélo si te gustan: El cautín y los desarmadores
*******
Hacer cosas. Construir cosas. Inventar cosas. Romper, intentar de nuevo. Crear.
Es la perfecta unión de lo terreno y lo divino; de la creatividad y el polvo; de la mente ágil y las manos sucias. Es el mundo de la ingeniería y el diseño, uno que Sir James Dyson conoce desde siempre, y en el que siempre quiso vivir.
Tú lo conociste por su aspiradora, quizás, o quizás por su secador de manos o el coche eléctrico que nunca fue. Pero el legado de Dyson corre desde muchos, muchos años antes; años de sombra y dedicación, de hipotecas y deudas y alacenas vacías; de puertas cerradas y de intentos fallidos. Sobre todo, años de crear invento sobre invento, intentando y mejorando cada pieza en busca de un sueño.
No es secreto que soy fan de las autobiografías, y esta es una que bien vale la pena. ¿Qué es lo que mueve a los creativos, a los creadores, a los inventores? El dinero no, ciertamente, ni los aplausos o los títulos, sino el inefable impulso de las manos inquietas y el cerebro perennemente encendido.
James Dyson es un pobre inventor que se hizo billonario y, aún hoy, sigue inventando. Sin el showmanship de Branson o el ego de Musk: un auténtico inventor de taller, apasionado del diseño y hombre de familia.
Si eres ingeniero, arquitecto o creador de cualquier tipo, no puedes dejar de revisar este libro, que también arroja luz sobre el perfil necesario de un emprendedor de cepa. Entrenenido de principio a fin y lleno de inspiración, nuevas ideas y brillantes propósitos. Una muy muy agradable serendipia.
Pudo haberse llamado: Dora la Aspiradora
Lo recomienda: Ole Kirk Christiansen
Leélo si te gustan: El cautín y los desarmadores
*******
Hacer cosas. Construir cosas. Inventar cosas. Romper, intentar de nuevo. Crear.
Es la perfecta unión de lo terreno y lo divino; de la creatividad y el polvo; de la mente ágil y las manos sucias. Es el mundo de la ingeniería y el diseño, uno que Sir James Dyson conoce desde siempre, y en el que siempre quiso vivir.
Tú lo conociste por su aspiradora, quizás, o quizás por su secador de manos o el coche eléctrico que nunca fue. Pero el legado de Dyson corre desde muchos, muchos años antes; años de sombra y dedicación, de hipotecas y deudas y alacenas vacías; de puertas cerradas y de intentos fallidos. Sobre todo, años de crear invento sobre invento, intentando y mejorando cada pieza en busca de un sueño.
No es secreto que soy fan de las autobiografías, y esta es una que bien vale la pena. ¿Qué es lo que mueve a los creativos, a los creadores, a los inventores? El dinero no, ciertamente, ni los aplausos o los títulos, sino el inefable impulso de las manos inquietas y el cerebro perennemente encendido.
James Dyson es un pobre inventor que se hizo billonario y, aún hoy, sigue inventando. Sin el showmanship de Branson o el ego de Musk: un auténtico inventor de taller, apasionado del diseño y hombre de familia.
Si eres ingeniero, arquitecto o creador de cualquier tipo, no puedes dejar de revisar este libro, que también arroja luz sobre el perfil necesario de un emprendedor de cepa. Entrenenido de principio a fin y lleno de inspiración, nuevas ideas y brillantes propósitos. Una muy muy agradable serendipia.
January 13, 2025
This is a difficult one to review and a case where I really feel the absence of fractional marks on here. I think it is more of a 3/5 than a 4/5, but it's marginal.
Dyson tells a remarkable story of his rise as an inventor, something I hadn't realised owed more to art and design than engineering initially. I wish I had paid him more attention earlier in life — a figure like this would have been terribly exciting for me.
But the tale often takes defensive, self-righteous detours: he spends rather too long justifying recent decisions such as moving Dyson factories outside of the UK, supporting Brexit, and the minor scandal around his involvement during COVID-19. It's a pity he has to do so much of this, and it says more about the way Britain treats its entrepreneurs than about him, but nevertheless it grated after a while.
I must also admit that early on I was rather put off by the sense he was advertising Dyson as a company, but frankly he won me over with sheer enthusiasm and commitment. The mention of his parody on SNL after a particularly earnest advertising campaign made me look it up, and it is indeed hilarious.
I come away from this with more knowledge of and respect for James Dyson, but feeling also that I would rather like him to direct that opinionated spirit to books about design and engineering rather than defending his reputation.
Dyson tells a remarkable story of his rise as an inventor, something I hadn't realised owed more to art and design than engineering initially. I wish I had paid him more attention earlier in life — a figure like this would have been terribly exciting for me.
But the tale often takes defensive, self-righteous detours: he spends rather too long justifying recent decisions such as moving Dyson factories outside of the UK, supporting Brexit, and the minor scandal around his involvement during COVID-19. It's a pity he has to do so much of this, and it says more about the way Britain treats its entrepreneurs than about him, but nevertheless it grated after a while.
I must also admit that early on I was rather put off by the sense he was advertising Dyson as a company, but frankly he won me over with sheer enthusiasm and commitment. The mention of his parody on SNL after a particularly earnest advertising campaign made me look it up, and it is indeed hilarious.
I come away from this with more knowledge of and respect for James Dyson, but feeling also that I would rather like him to direct that opinionated spirit to books about design and engineering rather than defending his reputation.
June 26, 2025
James Dyson is a British inventor and entrepreneur best known for his bagless vacuum cleaners, as well as a range of other innovative products like bladeless fans and hair dryers. This book is a memoir and autobiography with strong elements of business, technology, and self-help. It will appeal to aspiring inventors, entrepreneurs, engineers, and anyone interested in stories of perseverance and innovation.
This account is more than just the story of a world-famous inventor—it’s a journey through persistence, creative thinking, and the value of failure. Dyson recounts how he created 5,127 prototypes over four years before perfecting the cyclonic vacuum cleaner, a process marked by setbacks but ultimately leading to a revolution in home cleaning technology. The book is not a business manual but a testament to the importance of education, mentorship, and self-belief. Dyson’s story is filled with anecdotes about his early inspirations, the influence of mentors, and the support of his family, all while championing the idea that progress comes from relentless experimentation and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
Memorable quote: “By continually challenging ourselves, investing in the future and experimenting, we can continue to make the future. We must never stop. Never, for one second become comfortable.”
This account is more than just the story of a world-famous inventor—it’s a journey through persistence, creative thinking, and the value of failure. Dyson recounts how he created 5,127 prototypes over four years before perfecting the cyclonic vacuum cleaner, a process marked by setbacks but ultimately leading to a revolution in home cleaning technology. The book is not a business manual but a testament to the importance of education, mentorship, and self-belief. Dyson’s story is filled with anecdotes about his early inspirations, the influence of mentors, and the support of his family, all while championing the idea that progress comes from relentless experimentation and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
Memorable quote: “By continually challenging ourselves, investing in the future and experimenting, we can continue to make the future. We must never stop. Never, for one second become comfortable.”
May 4, 2025
There are all kinds of opinions out there about Dyson as a company and its products — truly all over the place. This book offers a great overview of how James Dyson invented his first products and how no company was initially willing to fund him. None of the big players wanted his vacuum cleaner, which threatened the multi-hundred-million-dollar vacuum bag industry. Yet, he went on to build a powerful company valued at 20 billion dollars, all with his own money.
The book also showcases many of Dyson’s impressive innovations, including his ambitious electric car project. There are plenty of fascinating legal battles described, shedding light on the origins of some common myths. For example, it reveals just how big the paper towel business in public restrooms really is — and how Dyson’s rivals pushed biased studies into the media to prevent his hand dryers from gaining too much market share.
It was interesting to read how critical Dyson is of the UK’s investment climate for industrial companies. He highlights how negatively politicians tend to view manufacturers, and how much easier it is to find engineers and full factory teams in places like Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere in Asia.
The book also showcases many of Dyson’s impressive innovations, including his ambitious electric car project. There are plenty of fascinating legal battles described, shedding light on the origins of some common myths. For example, it reveals just how big the paper towel business in public restrooms really is — and how Dyson’s rivals pushed biased studies into the media to prevent his hand dryers from gaining too much market share.
It was interesting to read how critical Dyson is of the UK’s investment climate for industrial companies. He highlights how negatively politicians tend to view manufacturers, and how much easier it is to find engineers and full factory teams in places like Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere in Asia.
November 30, 2025
Interesting portrayal and autobiography from James Dyson. The man and his inventions are (as the title suggests) intertwined: After reading, I guess more than one reader will buy a Dyson product 🙃.
His plead for and example of entrepeneurship that is not rooted in dragon’s den style but in making things and having first-hand experience with products and customers is an inspiring and refreshing thought.
Also, he is not afraid of some analysis of politics and society supported by examples. For me, here were voiced some refreshingly different worldviews than mine (for example regarding Brexit).
It would have been an even better book if more dissenting voices were included: almost in parallel I read Sam Walton’s “Made in America”, where his fiercest opponents and intimate family members have their say and clearly disagree with some choices or ideas while still creating a compelling read. Compared to Made in America, Innovation is more one man’s vision: although his wife Deirdre and son Jake have their say as well, it is more of just another support or example supporting the narrative.
Overall, it is a good and refreshing read, rooted in experience rather than big overdone generalised ideas. I really enjoyed it, and every minute spent reading was well spent.
His plead for and example of entrepeneurship that is not rooted in dragon’s den style but in making things and having first-hand experience with products and customers is an inspiring and refreshing thought.
Also, he is not afraid of some analysis of politics and society supported by examples. For me, here were voiced some refreshingly different worldviews than mine (for example regarding Brexit).
It would have been an even better book if more dissenting voices were included: almost in parallel I read Sam Walton’s “Made in America”, where his fiercest opponents and intimate family members have their say and clearly disagree with some choices or ideas while still creating a compelling read. Compared to Made in America, Innovation is more one man’s vision: although his wife Deirdre and son Jake have their say as well, it is more of just another support or example supporting the narrative.
Overall, it is a good and refreshing read, rooted in experience rather than big overdone generalised ideas. I really enjoyed it, and every minute spent reading was well spent.
June 3, 2025
A book of two distinct parts. I loved Dyson talking about building his company and products. He is about as "clean" as billionaires come, and his story of being lead by science and research, treating each failure as a learning experience, bringing design to household products, and backing himself and those around him is often inspirational.
Unfortunately much of the second half of the book focuses on his politics and settling grudges, and here it feels like there is a massive survivorship bias, which frames a lot of his anti-government, anti-public business, pro-risk taking sentiment. In his case, where a billion dollar business was the outcome, government and public business' should, in retrospect, have been more willing to work with him, but they are no doubt pitched about thousands of new ideas and business looking for funding, partnerships, tax breaks or expedited approvals. Being wrong once doesn't mean these institutions are corrupt or useless or even need their rules changed.
Dyson's is an excellent story, but unfortunately for me the diversions and point scoring stopped this from being an excellent book.
Unfortunately much of the second half of the book focuses on his politics and settling grudges, and here it feels like there is a massive survivorship bias, which frames a lot of his anti-government, anti-public business, pro-risk taking sentiment. In his case, where a billion dollar business was the outcome, government and public business' should, in retrospect, have been more willing to work with him, but they are no doubt pitched about thousands of new ideas and business looking for funding, partnerships, tax breaks or expedited approvals. Being wrong once doesn't mean these institutions are corrupt or useless or even need their rules changed.
Dyson's is an excellent story, but unfortunately for me the diversions and point scoring stopped this from being an excellent book.
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