The Myths of Innovation

Where do I start? 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.

At this point I can't say much that the other reviewers haven't already. Berkun makes a case study out of innovators and their innovations, exposing the real history behind the developments. There is no such thing as "Eureka!"...breakthroughs occur only after many long hours of development have been racked up (even in such "accidental" discoveries like the microwave oven), from you and all of your predecessors, all the way back to when we first crawled out of the ocean. So much surrounding innovation is beyond the control of the innovator. Berkun takes 10 myths and picks them apart, piece by piece....this is an absolute must read for people in technical fields as well as basement inventors. It should set you straight before you go off and (foolishly) try to change the world with a (insert fancy new widget here). I found the book to be humorous and refreshing. I wish I would have come across this book before I started my graduate education, it would have changed my temperament to be more realistic when it comes to cutting-edge research at an earlier time (I got there anyway, but now I am old and cynical). And for the record, this is not a cookbook for innovation. There is no such thing...and reading this book should explain to you why. Also, I second the comment about the colophon being worth the price of the book.

I immediately liked this book after reading the "Commitment to research accuracy" page near the front. Any author who goes above and beyond in their effort to provide the most accurate information they can and even provides a link to report inaccuracies cares about his readers and this resonates throughout the rest of the book. 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.

Scott Berkun é uma referência em tecnologia e neste livro deixa mais uma vez a sua marca como um excelente autor. Claro, objetivo e fácil de ler. Não deixa seu texto rebuscado com a casca de um academicismo vazio, mas não fica superficial como muitos livros de auto-ajuda corporativo.

Dieses Buch hat mein Leben verändert. Ich arbeite in einer Software-Firma, in der es heißt "jetzt seit mal innovativ, aber nur Freitags und ihr habt nur 25 Tage im Jahr dafür". Berkun hat mir durch seine glasklare Analyse wie Innovation funktioniert gezeigt, welcher Illusion ich nachgelaufen bin. 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!

El libro identifica las claves de la innovación, explicando como un gran porcentaje de su éxito es esfuerzo personal o colectivo y una pequeña parte de inventiva. Todo ello acompañado de ejemplos que lo ilustran. También incluye una metodología para poder aplicar innovación.

Interesante punto de vista que cuestiona los clichés de la innovación. Cuenta con un buen desarrollo y con ejemplos interesantes.

Well written and easy to read, but not at all dumbed-down. Every chapter is filled with useful insights and sprinkled with quote-worthy lines.