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How Innovation Works
- Serendipity, Energy and the Saving of Time
- Narrated by: Matt Ridley
- Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
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How Innovation Works
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Summary
Building on his bestseller The Rational Optimist, Matt Ridley chronicles the history of innovation, and how we need to change our thinking on the subject.
Innovation is the main event of the modern age, the reason we experience both dramatic improvements in our living standards and unsettling changes in our society. It is innovation that will shape the twenty-first century. Yet innovation remains a mysterious process, poorly understood by policy makers and businessmen alike.
Matt Ridley argues that we need to see innovation as an incremental, bottom-up, fortuitous process that happens as a direct result of the human habit of exchange, rather than an orderly, top-down process developing according to a plan. Innovation is crucially different from invention, because it is the turning of inventions into things of practical and affordable use to people. It speeds up in some sectors and slows down in others. It is always a collective, collaborative phenomenon, involving trial and error, not a matter of lonely genius. It still cannot be modelled properly by economists, but it can easily be discouraged by politicians. Far from there being too much innovation, we may be on the brink of an innovation famine.
Ridley derives these and other lessons from the lively stories of scores of innovations – from steam engines to search engines – how they started and why they succeeded or failed.
Critic reviews
"What a superb writer he is, and he seems to get better and better." (Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene)
"An insightful and charming exploration of questions that range from the truly profound (How does our species capture energy to stave off decay and death?) to the merely fascinating (Why did it take us so long to invent the wheeled suitcase?)" (Steven Pinker, Johnstone professor, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now)
"From the Stone Age to smartphones and from farming to fission, Matt Ridley demonstrates with a plethora of examples how innovation has changed and, for the most part, improved the human condition, despite repeated resistance and frequent failure. Given the freedom of thought that innovation needs, he argues, we can ensure the survival of the planet. We abandon it or constrain it at our peril." (Sir Tim Laurence, chairman of English Heritage)
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 29-07-21
Innovative
Although this book does seem to get repetitive towards the middle, the same format used for each chapter, stick with it until the end, the reward is worth it! Matt Ridley does a great job of attempting to explain the almost impossible world of innovation, from its history to the present day.
One of the best bits about this book is how it paints a very positive picture of the future by using past examples, especially with regards to great inventions being as well received as the recent pandemic. The next great invention is probably under our noses right now, but we just don’t know it.
Matt also has a great way of explaining the set backs to innovation. Governments take note! Too many regulations or the insistence of giving too much protection to current products appears to stifle our future. However, innovation will always win in the end, as it appears that necessity is the mother of invention.
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- Tom Brown
- 03-08-20
Most important message for the UK this century.
The book explains exactly how we and the western world became prosperous and why we will now be passed by China the other bric countries unless we free up enterprise and allow ruthless competition against established vested interests and monopolies.
Please make your local MP read this book, or our children's future is to become the new third world.
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- susanneshi
- 11-10-20
Truly enjoyed every minute
It’s time to make innovation work! Agree!
The book ends with a few words on Covid-19 after taking us through detailed and interesting steps on innovation throughout history and the world. Listening to the writer’s pleasant voice as he reads his book, it becomes clear that we are now (2020) truly in a situation where we should embrace the opportunity the world has thrown us. It’s a positive and encouraging lesson learned. A true gem to interrupt the working from home routine.
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- Sassy
- 21-07-20
Another brilliant book by Matt Ridley
A Fascinating Topic - which held my attention right until the end of the book. The fact that it is narrated by Matt Ridley is a real bonus.
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- The Lemon
- 29-09-22
should be compulsory reading for everyone
innovation the goose that lays the golden eggs, yet no one stops to reflect on this. Matt does and excellent effort to shed light on how it works.
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- Moss
- 30-04-21
Inspirational read
Great book on an under appreciated topic. I hope that our government take the time to listen.
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- Criticaldad
- 23-12-20
Fascinating historical perspective on innovation
Found this a fascinating read from the first chapters on the steam engine, through the sections on transport, medicine, agriculture and IT, to the Afterword on Covid. Don't be put off by the author's strong political beliefs, which are only aired in the final chapter (there's no doubt the EU has stymied innovation in some areas but he's also critical of US and UK govts at various points). There is something satisfying about hearing a book expertly read by the author himself.
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- aeroroar
- 30-12-20
Fascinating perspective on innovation
a fascinating perspective on the process of innovation. perhaps a few too many hobby horses, but the central point comes across clearly and powerfully.
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- ejaik
- 01-08-20
Innovative ideas
Read by the author. I liked thé performance, and thé pacing of the reading.
Thé storytelling in thé Book brought thé ideas explored to life.
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- Vox
- 02-01-21
How Innovation Works is a superb audiobook
Matt Wridley takes the listener on a fascinating tour. Walking the meandering trails left by dozens of world-changing innovations. Busting the myth of future-seeing geniuses working in isolation and big reveal moments.
It's more than hindsight and history. Matt drills down to what innovation actually is. With plenty of thought-provoking insights, questions, and thoughts for the future.
The structure and the narration makes this an effortless and compelling listen. Excellent!
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1 person found this helpful