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The Myths of Innovation 1st Edition
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In this new paperback edition of the classic bestseller, you'll be taken on a hilarious, fast-paced ride through the history of ideas. Author Scott Berkun will show you how to transcend the false stories that many business experts, scientists, and much of pop culture foolishly use to guide their thinking about how ideas change the world. With four new chapters on putting the ideas in the book to work, updated references and over 50 corrections and improvements, now is the time to get past the myths, and change the world.
You'll have fun while you learn:
- Where ideas come from
- The true history of history
- Why most people don't like ideas
- How great managers make ideas thrive
- The importance of problem finding
- The simple plan (new for paperback)
Since its initial publication, this classic bestseller has been discussed on NPR, MSNBC, CNBC, and at Yale University, MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Google, Amazon.com, and other major media, corporations, and universities around the world. It has changed the way thousands of leaders and creators understand the world. Now in an updated and expanded paperback edition, it's a fantastic time to explore or rediscover this powerful view of the world of ideas.
"Sets us free to try and change the world." --Guy Kawasaki, Author of Art of The Start
"Small, simple, powerful: an innovative book about innovation." --Don Norman, author of Design of Everyday Things
"Insightful, inspiring, evocative, and just plain fun to read. It's totally great." --John Seely Brown, Former Director, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
"Methodically and entertainingly dismantling the cliches that surround the process of innovation." --Scott Rosenberg, author of Dreaming in Code; cofounder of Salon.com
"Will inspire you to come up with breakthrough ideas of your own." --Alan Cooper, Father of Visual Basic and author of The Inmates are Running the Asylum
"Brimming with insights and historical examples, Berkun's book not only debunks widely held myths about innovation, it also points the ways toward making your new ideas stick." --Tom Kelley, GM, IDEO; author of The Ten Faces of Innovation
- ISBN-101449389627
- ISBN-13978-1449389628
- Edition1st
- PublisherO'Reilly Media
- Publication dateSeptember 28, 2010
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.63 x 8.5 inches
- Print length246 pages
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From the Publisher
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The Myths of Innovation | Making Things Happen | Confessions of a Public Speaker | |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars
312
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4.4 out of 5 stars
299
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Price | $8.99$8.99 | $31.14$31.14 | $12.28$12.28 |
O'Reilly Media presents: Scott Berkun |
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Scott Berkun was a manager at Microsoft from 1994-2003, on projects including v1-5 (not 6) of Internet Explorer. He is the author of three bestselling books, Making Things Happen, The Myths of Innovation and Confessions of a Public Speaker. He works full time as a writer and speaker, and his work has appeared in The New York Times, Forbes magazine, The Economist, The Washington Post, Wired magazine, National Public Radio and other media. He regularly contributes to Harvard Business and BusinessWeek, has taught creative thinking at the University of Washington, and has appeared as an innovation and management expert on MSNBC and on CNBC. He writes frequently on innovation and creative thinking at his surprisingly popular blog: scottberkun.com and tweets at @berkun.
His ambition in life is to fill the above bookshelf, which is by his writing desk, with books he has written. If he were smarter, he’d have picked a smaller shelf.
He’s based in Seattle, WA, but speaks often all around the world speaking about creativity and other topics he’s written about. If you’d like to hire him to speak at an event, head over here: www.scottberkun.com. You can watch videos of him in action and get in touch.
Product details
- Publisher : O'Reilly Media; 1st edition (September 28, 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 246 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1449389627
- ISBN-13 : 978-1449389628
- Item Weight : 11.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.63 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #61,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #402 in Entrepreneurship (Books)
- #613 in Business Management (Books)
- #921 in Leadership & Motivation
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author
![Scott Berkun](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61+dVohtJXL._SY600_.jpg)
Scott Berkun (@berkun) is the best selling author of seven books, including Making Things Happen, The Myths of Innovation, Confessions of a Public Speaker and The Year Without Pants. His work has appeared in the The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wired Magazine, Fast Company, The Economist, Forbes Magazine, and other media. He has taught creative thinking at the University of Washington and has been a regular commentator on CNBC, MSNBC and National Public Radio. His many popular essays and entertaining lectures can be found for free on his blog at http://www.scottberkun.com.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the content very insightful and real. They also describe the book as very easy to read with a clear and compelling call to action. Readers appreciate the humor and style of writing. However, some feel the plot is not worth their time.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book very insightful, well-written, and packed with great examples and evidence to support new theories. They also appreciate the interesting bits of history and different point of view. Readers also say the author does an excellent job not only listing sources in each chapter, but also making them understandable to non-scientific folks. Overall, they say the book provides an interesting perspective on innovation that inspires them to keep moving forward.
"...I found this book easy to read and well referenced, which gave it credibility...." Read more
"...Finally, Berkun does an excellent job of not only listing sources in each chapter..." Read more
"The concepts are good and the theories are sound, but Scott really likes to hear himself talk...." Read more
"...should be the first book on innovation because it helps you establish the proper attitude toward the concept of innovation...." Read more
Customers find the book very easy to read, interesting, and makes a lot of sense. They also say the author has a gift of writing, with a simple, humor-filled style. Customers also say that the book is a powerful read that makes the concept less intimidating.
"...I found this book easy to read and well referenced, which gave it credibility...." Read more
"...- Fits in shirt pocket, syncs seamlessly with PC, fast and easy to use, and no more than $299...." Read more
"...I highly recommend this book. It's a short easy to read book; one that will keep you entertained during a cross-country flight." Read more
"...Scott has a great style of writing: simple, with humor, and understandable to the non-scientific folks...." Read more
Customers find the humor in the book simple, understandable, and engaging. They also say the author's style is informative, personable,
"...I found the book to be humorous and refreshing...." Read more
"...It's a quick, witty and accurate read and will most likely change your perceptions about innovation going forward. I highly recommend it." Read more
"...Scott has a great style of writing: simple, with humor, and understandable to the non-scientific folks...." Read more
"Scott has a lovely language and sense of humor. You can read his books solely to enjoy his jokes...." Read more
Customers find the plot of the book to be disappointing. They also mention that it might not be worth their time.
"...It is worth your money. But it might not be worth your time. Read on...." Read more
"...It's not very useful for someone trying to improve innovation in teamworks" Read more
"...It's an easy read. Not a very good book to write a paper about...." Read more
"...Filling, but not satisfying." Read more
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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This would have to be the best book I have read in recent times. Seriously good! I started this book on Monday and finished it today (Thursday). For me that's seriously quick, I couldn't put the thing down. I was hooked, engaged and excited by what I read, but what's it all about you ask?
Obviously innovation, but Scott Berkun delves much deeper, discussing what innovation really is - this was seriously interesting. Without giving to much away, he suggests it's a term we probably use too much (you know one of those buzzwords we throw around - sounds good but do we really innovate).
Secondly, the book is about believing in yourself and how to stimulate your thinking to come up with ideas, which may one day provide a solution to a problem that makes you money. Scott Berkun covers everything from idea generation, including environments which are likely to foster such ideas, to pitching ideas to your boss and venture capitalists, to maintaining your motivation, to understanding how culture and mindsets can thwart even the very best ideas and everything else in between. He provides tools, examples and much more to help you do/overcome all of this.
I found this book easy to read and well referenced, which gave it credibility. Scott Berkun does a brilliant job of revealing just how many of the world's greatest innovations (Internet & others) and most successful companies (Google, Apple & others) made it where they have. He cites hard work and determination amongst other things as being responsible for helping them to where they are. He believes though we are all capable of such great feats and provides a great deal of insight, giving I'm sure any reader a boost in confidence.
Of most interest was the real stories behind how it all started for these individuals and companies. Scott suggests it all starts with an IDEA. That's it, a simple idea but for it to be realised and potentially one day be successful, you must do something about it and make that idea happen. He suggests no idea happens if all you do is think about it. You must do something about it.
I found knowing the real stories behind these companies very refreshing, rather than the version often cited in mainstream media.
Whether you're in business, want to be in business, have an idea or have a dream you wish to realise, then this book might just be for you. I know Scott has certainly re-ignited my desire to stop talking and start doing.
Mr. Berkun has clearly been on a quest to discover not only the basics of creative thinking, but how it relates to entrepreneurs and invention. Using this bottom up approach to innovation allows him to target 10 myths of innovation and analyze them so we can understand where they came from and how to avoid them. Each myth is allotted its own chapter and they are as follows (along with my quick thoughts on each chapter):
1. The myth of epiphany (epiphany looks like hard work and wears overalls)
2. We understand the history of innovation (the victors write the history)
3. There is a method for innovation (great chapter, worth the price of whole book)
4. People love new ideas (great ideas usually don't look great, ask Google)
5. The lone inventor (one of my favorite chapters - nobody goes it alone)
6. Good ideas are hard to find (have more ideas, have crazy ideas, have no fear with your ideas)
7. Your boss knows more about innovation than you (don't confuse power with creativity)
8. The best ideas win (winning isn't based on how good the idea is)
9. Problems and solutions (problems matter and how you define them matters more)
10. Innovation is always good (unintended consequences matter)
Berkun closes the book with chapters on hype and history, creative thinking hacks, how to pitch an idea and how to stay motivated. His aside in the hype and history chapter that "if you want to be creative, you must create things" is at first glance simple advice, but for me it speaks to the core message of this book: if you want to get anything out of this book you have to do something. He has provided the roadmap, we have to begin the journey.
Finally, Berkun does an excellent job of not only listing sources in each chapter (which is nirvana for those willing to further explore original source material), but his "Research and recommendations" appendix, specifically the ranked bibliography, were outstanding ideas and deserve special mention.
A definite must read for anyone interested in innovation, ideas, creativity and not only what not to do, but what to do on their innovation journey.
Top reviews from other countries
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Zum Beispiel werden Innovationen erst im Rückblick als logische und zielgerichtete Folge von Ereignissen wahrgenommen. Sie sind in Wahrheit aber mühsame und beständige Arbeit und sehen, wenn sie das Licht der Welt erblicken, erst mal unscheinbar und unfertig aus. Sie werden außerdem nie von einer Person alleine bewerkstelligt. Den einsamen Erfinder gibt es nicht, auch wenn historisch immer wieder einzelne Personen hervorgehoben werden. Als technisch affiner und rationaler Mensch neigt man zu der Ansicht, dass nur die beste Lösung gewinnt. Das stimmt leider gar nicht. Es gibt jede Menge Faktoren, welche die Akzeptanz beeinflussen und diese haben wenig mit der eigentlichen Qualität einer Innovation zu tun. Nicht zuletzt gehört eine Riesenportion Glück dazu.
Sehr erfrischend ist die Auflistung der üblichen Abwehrargumente. Alle schon mal gehört. Überhaupt schreibt Berkun in einem lockeren und flüssigen Stil. Das Buch ließt sich ausgesprochen gut und macht viel Spaß.
Mir hat Berkun geholfen, meine eigene Situation klarer zu sehen. Das tat zwar weh, führte aber zu neuen Ideen, wie ich mehr aus dem machen kann was mir zur Verfügung steht.
Wer im Beruf das Wort "Innovation" öfters zu hören bekommt, sollte dieses Buch lesen!
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