Where Good Ideas Come from

from VisibleGhost

Steven Johnson's strength is collecting small bits of disparate information from many places and then synthesizing that information into an interesting readable form. He's made a writing career out of this methodology. As usual, he informs, entertains, and highlights some obscure knowledge. I don...

from gbsallery

A surprisingly interesting broad survey of innovation. Somewhat formulaic in sections, and lacking any great insight, this book nevertheless presents a mass of interesting data and makes a case (fairly weak, but still a case) for re-evaluating how organisations approach innovation. That said, the...

from Othemts

I'm pleased I won a copy of this book by one of my favorite science writers through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. In engaging prose Johnson explores through historical examples and case studies how people come up with great ideas. It's not the lone genius with a light bulb popping up...

from nonRIVAL

"...as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name." Johnson opens this wonderful book on ideas, innovation and the myth of genius with this arresting passage from Shakespeare and hardly slows fr...

from tlockney

This book is really more like a 3.5 star book, but I can't do that on here and I do really like Steven Johnson's writing in general (been in a fan back into the early FEED days). I also should admit that part of the reason for that half-star demotion might be that I listened to this as an audiobo...