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How Innovation Works
416 pages, 2020
Innovation is the main event of the modern age. It has caused dramatic improvements in our living standards and unsettling changes within our society. Forget short-term symptoms like Donald Trump and Brexit: they are symptoms of a larger ill, namely innovation itself. Innovation remains poorly understood by policymakers and businesspeople alike, yet irrevocable, inevitable, and inexorable when it does happen.
Matt Ridley argues in this book that we need to change the way we think about innovation, seeing it as an incremental process happening for no particular reason but rather as a direct result of the human habit of exchange.
In 'How Innovation Works', Matt Ridley emphasizes that innovation is not a solo act. It's a team sport, where ideas are shared, combined, and improved upon. So, if you're looking to innovate, remember to collaborate and share your ideas with others.
Ridley makes it clear that innovation isn't a one-time thing. It's a continuous process of trial and error, learning from failures, and making improvements. So, don't be disheartened by initial failures. Instead, see them as stepping stones towards success.
One of the key points in 'How Innovation Works' is that necessity is the mother of invention. When there's a need or a problem, that's when people get creative and find solutions. So, if you're stuck, look for a problem that needs solving.
Ridley argues that innovation thrives in environments where there's freedom to think, experiment, and take risks. So, if you want to foster innovation, create a space where people feel free to explore and express their ideas.
In 'How Innovation Works', you'll find that many great innovations came from unexpected places. It's not always the experts or the most educated who come up with groundbreaking ideas. So, keep an open mind and be ready to be surprised.
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Matt Ridley's 'How Innovation Works' is a comprehensive guide to understanding the driving force behind human progress.
Bill Gates - Microsoft Co-founderRidley's book is a fascinating exploration of the nature and history of innovation, which is the lifeblood of civilization.
Richard Dawkins - Evolutionary BiologistIn 'How Innovation Works', Ridley provides a deep and insightful examination of what sparks human creativity and progress.
Steven Pinker - Cognitive Psychologist