The best books about design thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship

Carol Dweck's book Mindset explores the idea that our beliefs about our own abilities and potential can have a significant impact on our success in life.

Dweck identifies two distinct mindsets that people can have: a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. Individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their talents and abilities are fixed traits that cannot be changed, while those with a growth mindset believe that their abilities can be developed through hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

This work has resonated with me during my more than two decades of experience driving innovation from Silicon Valley, where I have seen the power of growth mindset in action as innovators brought new ideas to productive use.

I highly recommend it for anyone interested in bringing new ideas to light.

Creative Confidence is a book that explores the idea that everyone has the ability to be creative, and that creativity can be a powerful tool for innovation and problem-solving.

Kelley argues that many people believe that creativity is a rare and elusive talent that only a select few possess, but in reality, everyone can develop their creative abilities with practice and effort.

Kelley provides numerous examples of individuals and organizations that have successfully used creativity to solve complex problems and create innovative solutions.

He also offers practical strategies and exercises for developing creative confidence, such as embracing failure, challenging assumptions, and experimenting with new ideas.

I have personally seen the benefits of creative confidence in my work and the work of others around me.

The Lean Startup is a book that presents a new approach to entrepreneurship and innovation that focuses on creating products that meet the needs of customers while minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.

Ries argues that many startups fail because they spend too much time and resources building products that customers don't want, and that a better approach is to quickly develop and test ideas using a process of continuous improvement.

Ries outlines a framework for implementing a lean startup approach, which includes identifying the target customer, creating a minimum viable product, and using rapid experimentation and feedback to improve the product.

He also emphasizes the importance of metrics and data analysis in guiding decision-making and measuring progress.

I have found it a practical and informative book that offers valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs and innovators looking to create successful and sustainable businesses.

This is a book that describes why design thinking can be a powerful tool for innovation and problem-solving.

Brown argues that traditional approaches to problem-solving often rely on linear and analytical thinking, which can be limiting when it comes to addressing complex and multifaceted challenges.

Brown presents a framework for design thinking that emphasizes empathy, experimentation, and collaboration.

I found numerous examples of individuals and organizations in the book that have successfully used design thinking to create innovative solutions to a wide range of problems, from improving healthcare to redesigning public spaces.

I found practical strategies of applying design thinking in life and work.

This book explores the idea that human decision-making is often influenced by unconscious biases and irrational behaviors.

Ariely argues that traditional economic models of decision-making are based on the assumption that humans are rational actors who make decisions based on self-interest, but in reality, our decisions are often influenced by emotions, social norms, and other external factors.

Ariely presents numerous examples and experiments that demonstrate how our irrational behavior can affect our decision-making, from the way we value products to the way we approach risk and uncertainty. 

As I apply Design Thinking to solve real world problems from human perspective, this book has helped me have a deeper understanding of user decision-making, influences, and biases to design solutions that works best for them.