The Right Kind of Crazy

“Steltzner’s enthusiastic, passionately written memoir is an insider’s guide to engineering wizardry and a testament to the effectiveness of team-minded engagement, rational problem-solving, and the concept of ‘making ideas reality.’ A motivational journey for armchair astronauts and readers fascinated by the unlimited wingspan of human potential.”
– KIRKUS REVIEWS

 “Steltzner is a genetic cross between Einstein and Elvis Costello who has mastered the art of managing complex tribes of humans. The Right Kind of Crazy is a fabulous—and ongoing—story.”
—JUAN ENRIQUEZ, coauthor of Evolving Ourselves
 
“Crazy ideas stay crazy until they become reality. The problem is, it takes a lot of people working together to turn crazy into amazing. Adam Steltzner should know—he did it. In this book he shows us that doing what others think is impossible takes more than grit and courage. It takes the ability to inspire people . . . It takes leadership.”
—SIMON SINEK, optimist and author of Start with Why and Leaders Eat Last
 
“Adam Steltzner not only does great engineering, he also teaches it and he can lead a great engineering team such as the one that landed Curiosity on Mars. All that embedded in a gaudy personality and astute observer makes for a book that is as delightful as it is instructive.”
—STEWART BRAND, president, The Long Now Foundation
 
“How does a band of engineers get a 2,000 -pound robot to the surface of Mars? The Right Kind of Crazy is proof that with the right kind of leader, a team of determined dreamers can accomplish just about anything.”
—BEN SILBERMANN, cofounder, Pinterest
 
“This book shares Adam’s journey from juvenile delinquent to landing on Mars. In its pages you will enter the mind of a fearless genius rocket scientist and discover the power of intuition, and how creativity and courage are as important as math. It is a must-read for scientists and artists alike.”
—TOM SACHS, artist

“A gripping account of the Curiosity mission, and some fascinating insights into the engineering principles and analytics involved.”
– MICHIKO KAKUTANI, The New York Times