Where Good Ideas Come From

The Natural History of Innovation

By: Steven Johnson

Narrated by: Erik Singer

One of our most innovative, popular thinkers takes on-in exhilarating style-one of our key questions: Where do good ideas come from?

Critic reviews

Stimulating and insightful ... a huge diversity of bright ideas—Financial Times

Johnson develops his provocative thesis in a book that is lucid and ... brilliant.—New Scientist

[An] exhilarating, idea-thirsty book ... full of intriguing facts.—Sunday Times

Listening to this book is a GOOD IDEA 👌

Excellent, from start to finish, especially for entrepreneurs. The conclusion is my favorite of all the chapters.

Another Steven Johnson feast

Would you listen to Where Good Ideas Come From again? Why?

I might listen again but more importantly I take away ideas that change my habits and get me excited.

Who was your favorite character and why?

John Locke - He really is but I haven't finished. The book is a review of aspects of creativity not a story. I listen in short bursts and it is a good thing since every two minutes, I hear another idea that keeps me occupied for a day.

What about Eric Singer’s performance did you like?

I can't decide if I like his using different accents for historical figures or not. He is very good at it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, too rich, too powerful

Any additional comments?

Johnson's The Invention of Air is another gold mine

Loses gas

interesting and intriguing until its not. It's not a long book to begin with. So many similar titles that give so much more

Innovation isn't just the Eureka moment

This book changes the common thinking that great ideas come from a single Eureka moment. Ideas start with a slow hunch and they need the environment with the right amount of order and chaos, a liquid network, and great people to make it a reality.

There are hundreds of innovations that only happened because one innovation came first. For example, there would be no Instagram with no internet. There would be no YouTube with no computer. That's the adjacent possible. You open one door, and suddenly, you opened four more possibilities.

Some other learnings from the book:
* Serendipity only happens for the ones who try;
* Errors guide you in the search of the truth. They're the inevitable path to innovation. Don't be afraid of failing;
* Take notes. All the time. You may not know that you're cultivating a slow hunch.

Awesome

Brilliant balanced and intellectual while still very accessible with easy lessons that can be implemented. The reef analogy comparison to cities in great