Mothers of Invention: A History of Creativity from the Greek Muses

A rollicking, enlightening examination of humanity's changing relationship to creativity, written from the perspectives of the Greek Muses.

The thing that sets humans apart from other animals is our ability to create, to imagine how one thing could become something else. For millennia, art and science, fueled by creativity, have driven the advancement of civilization. From Socrates to Galileo to Ella Fitzgerald, so-called geniuses have left indelible marks on culture, but the creative's role in society is shifting. The artists and scientists who were once seen as bastions of innovation and enlightenment have been reduced to mere entertainment in the age of media and celebrity. This degradation of art is as harmful as it is boring, putting undue pressure on fallible individuals and eroding the magic of true creative expression. But if you know how to look for them, the powerful and (mostly) benevolent Greek Muses can be seen uplifting creativity as they inspire humanity's major inventions throughout history.

In Mothers of Invention, the Greek Muses reveal how they meddled in mortal manners, from using astronomy to make sense of the universe to harnessing electricity to transform life on earth--and Olympus. They show the healing power of art through jazz, the equalizing power of science through healthcare, and the communing power of creativity when we broadcast our stories to the world. In sharing their perspectives on human history, the Muses offer insights into the origins of religion, democracy, and physics, providing a decidedly mythical birds-eye view of these monumental developments. The result is a compelling call to creative action, recognizing the power of collaboration and reframing what it really means when inspiration strikes.


Author: Moiya McTier
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 08/18/2026
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781538768600


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/22/2026
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2026

About the Author
Dr. Moiya McTier is an astrophysicist, folklorist, and science communicator based in New York City. After graduating from Harvard as the first person in the school's history to study both astronomy and mythology, Moiya earned her PhD in astrophysics at Columbia University where she was selected as a National Science Foundation research fellow. Moiya has consulted with Disney and PBS on their fictional worlds, helped design exhibits for the New York Hall of Science, given hundreds of talks about science around the globe (including features on MSNBC, NPR, and NowThis News), and publicly advocated for artist rights in the face of generative AI with the Human Artistry Campaign. To help her fellow humans feel closer to the universe, Moiya hosts and produces the podcast Pale Blue Pod. When she's not researching space or imagining new worlds, Moiya can likely be found watching trashy reality tv with her cats, Cosmo and Spats.