By Scott Sparling
Partnership is a key word in business these days. Collaboration. Synergy. It’s all about being stronger together.
Yet on a personal level, we’re still enthralled by the myth of the rugged individual, the lone genius, the great man or woman. But look closer, and you might discover the lone genius wasn’t really alone. That’s the theory behind Joshua Wolf Shenk’s new book, Powers of Two: Finding the Essence of Innovation in Creative Pairs.
Last week, Gard Communications was delighted to host Shenk, along with Literary Arts Executive Director Andrew Proctor and many friends, to hear about famous pairs of all types – choreographer George Balanchine and ballerina Suzanne Farrell, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the literary friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien – and how one-to-one collaboration can create amazing results.
Shenk’s talk sparked a lot of great conversation, aided by fine wine from our friends at The Cellar Door and delicious food from Devil’s Food Catering. The evening was also a terrific extension of our long-term support for Literary Arts.
Powers of Two is getting a lot of attention in the press. Our guests took home signed copies. It’s a great read and is available, of course, at Powell’s. Or – if you need more to whet your appetite – check this fascinating excerpt on John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the two songwriters who powered the Fab Four.