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By Scott Berkun
May 2007
Pages: 192
ISBN 10: 0-596-52705-5 |
ISBN 13: 9780596527051
(Average of 4 Customer Reviews)
In The Myths of Innovation, bestselling author Scott Berkun takes a careful look at innovation history, including the software and Internet Age, to reveal how ideas truly become successful innovations-truths that people can apply to today's challenges.
Using dozens of examples from the history of technology, business, and the arts, you'll learn how to convert the knowledge you have into ideas that can change the world.
Full Description
How do you know whether a hot technology will succeed or fail? Or where the next big idea will come from? The best answers come not from the popular myths we tell about innovation, but instead from time-tested truths that explain how we've made it this far. This book shows the way.
In The Myths of Innovation, bestselling author Scott Berkun takes a careful look at innovation history, including the software and Internet Age, to reveal how ideas truly become successful innovations-truths that people can apply to today's challenges. Using dozens of examples from the history of technology, business, and the arts, you'll learn how to convert the knowledge you have into ideas that can change the world.
"For centuries before Google, MIT, and IDEO, modern hotbeds of innovation, we struggled to explain any kind of creation, from the universe itself to the multitudes of ideas around us. While we can make atomic bombs, and dry-clean silk ties, we still don't have satisfying answers for simple questions like: Where do songs come from? Are there an infinite variety of possible kinds of cheese? How did Shakespeare and Stephen King invent so much, while we're satisfied watching sitcom reruns? Our popular answers have been unconvincing, enabling misleading, fantasy-laden myths to grow strong." -- Scott Berkun, from the text.
"Insightful, inspiring, evocative, and just plain fun to read it's totally great."
-- John Seely Brown, former Chief Scientist of Xerox, and Director, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC); current Chief of Confusion
"Small, simple, powerful: an innovative book about innovation."
-- Don Norman, Nielsen Norman Group, Northwestern University; author of Emotional Design and Design of Everyday Things
"The naked truth about innovation is ugly, funny, and eye-opening, but it sure isn't what most of us have come to believe. With this book, Berkun sets us free to try to change the world unencumbered with misconceptions about how innovation happens."
-- Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start
"Brimming with insights and historical examples, Berkun's book not only debunks widely held myths about innovation but also points the ways toward making your new ideas stick. Even in today's ultra-busy commercial world, reading this book will be time well spent."
-- Tom Kelley, GM, IDEO; author of The Ten Faces of Innovation
"This book cuts through the hype, analyzes what is essential, and more importantly, what is not. You will leave with a thorough understanding of what really drives innovation."
-- Werner Vogels, CTO, Amazon.com
"I loved this book. It's an easy-to-read playbook for anyone wanting to lead and manage positive change in their business."
-- Frank McDermott, Marketing Manager, EMI Music
Scott Berkun knows innovation. A member of the Internet Explorer team at Microsoft from 1994-1999, he is a full-time author at www.scottberkun.com and wrote the 2005 bestseller, The Art of Project Management (O'Reilly). He also teaches creative thinking at the University of Washington.
Browse within this book
In The Myths of Innovation, bestselling author Scott Berkun takes a careful look at innovation history, including the software and Internet Age, to reveal how ideas truly become successful innovations-truths that people can apply to today's challenges. Using dozens of examples from the history of technology, business, and the arts, you'll learn how to convert the knowledge you have into ideas that can change the world.
- Why all innovation is a collaborative process
- How innovation depends on persuasion
- Why problems are more important than solutions
- How the good innovation is the enemy of the great
- Why the biggest challenge is knowing when it's good enough
"For centuries before Google, MIT, and IDEO, modern hotbeds of innovation, we struggled to explain any kind of creation, from the universe itself to the multitudes of ideas around us. While we can make atomic bombs, and dry-clean silk ties, we still don't have satisfying answers for simple questions like: Where do songs come from? Are there an infinite variety of possible kinds of cheese? How did Shakespeare and Stephen King invent so much, while we're satisfied watching sitcom reruns? Our popular answers have been unconvincing, enabling misleading, fantasy-laden myths to grow strong." -- Scott Berkun, from the text.
"Insightful, inspiring, evocative, and just plain fun to read it's totally great."
-- John Seely Brown, former Chief Scientist of Xerox, and Director, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC); current Chief of Confusion
"Small, simple, powerful: an innovative book about innovation."
-- Don Norman, Nielsen Norman Group, Northwestern University; author of Emotional Design and Design of Everyday Things
"The naked truth about innovation is ugly, funny, and eye-opening, but it sure isn't what most of us have come to believe. With this book, Berkun sets us free to try to change the world unencumbered with misconceptions about how innovation happens."
-- Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start
"Brimming with insights and historical examples, Berkun's book not only debunks widely held myths about innovation but also points the ways toward making your new ideas stick. Even in today's ultra-busy commercial world, reading this book will be time well spent."
-- Tom Kelley, GM, IDEO; author of The Ten Faces of Innovation
"This book cuts through the hype, analyzes what is essential, and more importantly, what is not. You will leave with a thorough understanding of what really drives innovation."
-- Werner Vogels, CTO, Amazon.com
"I loved this book. It's an easy-to-read playbook for anyone wanting to lead and manage positive change in their business."
-- Frank McDermott, Marketing Manager, EMI Music
Scott Berkun knows innovation. A member of the Internet Explorer team at Microsoft from 1994-1999, he is a full-time author at www.scottberkun.com and wrote the 2005 bestseller, The Art of Project Management (O'Reilly). He also teaches creative thinking at the University of Washington.
Featured customer reviews
A fun and interesting read, August 07 2007
Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
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I enjoyed reading this book. It gives a lot of insight into how some of the worlds best minds came up with their ideas for innovative products. The tone is light yet informative. This book definitely gave me something to think about in terms of how ideas come about and different ways to think about problems.
A Good Read, August 01 2007
Rating:
Submitted by
JT Smith
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I recently read The Myths of Innovation by Scott Berkun. I've ready many books like it before, and if you have too then you'll find a few new ideas here, but mostly it will be a nice tidy summation of what you've already read. However, if you haven't read many books on innovation, then I think this is a wonderful place to start.
The book does a great job of laying down several myths, and then provides the reasons why it's only a myth. The best part about this is that the author does a good job of citing sources. Too many books these days are more about opinion than fact, and by citing sources the author gives you a chance to read further on that topic, and see why he took the stance he did.
Of the myths dispelled, my personal favorite was that innovation happens instantly. It's the myth that an apple fell on Newton's head, and he discovered gravity. That story may or may not be true, but regardless, Newton did not discover gravity, but rather wrote down a series of mathmatical laws to define it. The first person who fell out of a tree probably discovered gravity. =)
I think a single quote from the book sums it up:"You can't find anything new if you only travel where others have gone."
All in all I think this is a good book, and would certainly recommend it to friends and colleagues.
Inspired to Innovate, July 17 2007
Rating:
Submitted by
Dan Slaten
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It was an easy read and very entertaining. Scott Berkin is able to inject subtle humor throughout the book to help keep the readers interest.
It debunked the myth of “build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door”
Nothing is invented suddenly – everything is built from the work of others. An inventor used all the knowledge available at the time, put different ideas and products together to ‘invent’ or innovate something new.
The second concept I found interesting was that many new ideas or ‘inventions’ never made it at the time.
A new idea or product requires several things to come together at once. First the public has to ready, there has to be a demand, second someone has to market it, get it out there to the public. It has to be easy to use or understand by the public.
What is interesting is that many discoveries or inventions are credited to a now famous person from history, when in fact several others had done the same work or made the same invention or discovery, but they never moved forward with it, got it into the hands of the right people.
Success was usually due to good business skills and clever marketing, not to mention finances to bankroll distribution or publicity.
And many inventions were created indirectly while trying to solve a different problem.
Being a Project Manager and tasked with solving problems, the most interesting concept Scott puts forth is that by clearly defining the problem up front, it almost solves itself. The solution becomes quite clear. The moral is: spend most of your time in defining the problem or project first, then executing a solution will be easy.
The book contains many real life examples of products or ideas from ancient history to more modern times. The computer revolution references were particularly interesting to me, being of that generation and working in the IT field.
The book contains a huge bibliography and copious foot notes for those that want additional information to substantiate Scott’s ideas. It also had a nice index that would normally only be found in a text book or reference book.
It was an inspiring book, made me want to revisit some of the ideas and products I had tinkered with in my garage now that I understand the forces at work behind great inventions.
It’s a book I would reference over and over again in order to re-inspire myself to continue any innovative Endeavour
fascinating, June 28 2007
Rating:
Submitted by
dave graham
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I really enjoyed this book. Scott has a great writing style - friendly and informative, well suited to the task in hand. What could have been a dull history of innovation has been turned into a short, punchy work. He manages to pack a great deal into the 192 pages; examples of how innovation works, where innovation comes from, and debunks several popular myths of innovation, pointing out that whilst there is a 'eureka' moment, there's a whole lot of hard work which lead up to it in the first place.
I read this book on a train journey, and found myself picking back through it on the return journey. It's jam-packed with interesting anecdotes and information. Inspirational too - it put the idea of writing and where ideas come from in a new light.
Recommended reading. Top stuff.
Media reviews
"…Small, simple, powerful: an innovative book about innovation."
-- Don Norman, Nielsen Norman Group, Northwestern University; author of Emotional Design and Design of Everyday Things
"Ah, the technology history book, normally I'm not a fan. The writing is aloof and dry. The topics are vague, the history misinterpreted, and the lessons presented to vague to be applicable. And don't get me started on the illustrations, which are all too often pyramids with the authors perched at the top looking down on the lowly reader at the base. Thankfully, this book, The Myths of Innovation breaks all of these rules. It's an engaging, fun and quick read. The history is interesting, and the lessons presented are practical. I particularly like the author's tone. It's witty and light, which makes this a very fast read, one that leaves you wanting even more by the end...It's an easy read that is hard to put down. What's more it's really motivating. After reading this book you will want to dig right back into those crazy ideas lurking around in the back of your mind and give them another shot. With this book, you will have a few more tools at your disposal to turn your ideas into reality. "
-- Jack Herrington, Slashdot.org
"The naked truth about innovation is ugly, funny, and eye-opening, but it sure isn’t what most of us have come to believe. With this book, Berkun sets us free to try to change the world unencumbered with misconceptions about how innovation happens. "
-- Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start
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"It's an engaging, fun and quick read. The history is interesting, and the lessons presented are practical. I particularly like the author's tone. It's witty and light, which makes this a very fast read, one that leaves you wanting even more by the end..."
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