Loonshots

Book cover of Loonshots: Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries

Book description

What do James Bond and Lipitor have in common? Why do traffic jams appear out of nowhere on highways? What can we learn about innovation from a glass of water? In Loonshots, physicist and entrepreneur Safi Bahcall reveals a surprising new way of thinking about the mysteries of group behaviour…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Loonshots as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Hasard Lee

Author

I enjoyed this book because it helped me to understand why bold ideas often don't get off the ground in big organizations.

These ideas are usually sought after and destroyed by the organization itself because the incentives of the managers who approve the ideas aren’t aligned. However, there is a solution that Safi goes into in depth.

A must-read for people who want to change the world.

From Hasard's list on becoming great at decision-making.

Rita Gunther McGrath

Author

This book tackles a core paradox of breakthrough innovations – that they often start in the mind of an ignored, discredited, and dismissed person. That person needs just enough resources to tinker with the idea for long enough that its potential can be realized. But to have a truly transformational impact, the idea has to go beyond just one person’s or a small team’s understanding to be embraced by a large number of champions and users. The book is an utterly delightful read, with innovations as varied as the steam engine and advanced biotech receiving Safi’s witty and knowledgeable touch.

From Rita's list on understanding how breakthrough innovation happens.