diffusion of innovations

"Argues that we need to see innovation as an incremental, bottom-up, fortuitous process that happens as a direct result of the human habit of exchange, rather than an orderly, top-down process developing according to a plan. Innovation is crucially different from invention, because it is the turning of inventions into things of practical and affordable use to people. It speeds up in some sectors and slows down in others. It is always a collective, collaborative phenomenon, involving trial and error, not a matter of lonely genius. It happens mainly in just a few parts of the world at any one time. It still cannot be modeled properly by economists, but it can easily be discouraged by politicians. Far from there being too much innovation, we may be on the brink of an innovation famine. Ridley derives these and other lessons from the lively stories of scores of innovations, how they started and why they succeeded or failed"--Provided by publisher.

An introduction to the Maker Movement, describing the technologies and tools accessible to innovators, with stories of how ordinary people have devised extraordinary products and started successful new business ventures with creativity and hard work.

Examines evolutionary biology, anthropology, economics, and philosophy as related to world history from the Stone Age to now. Highlights the theory that we are creatures of evolution rather than being the masters of our own destinies.

Examines evolutionary biology, anthropology, economics, and philosophy as related to world history from the Stone Age to now. Highlights the theory that we are creatures of evolution rather than being the masters of our own destinies.

Explains how to build companies that create new industries and products.

Contains an overview of the global political and economic change since the turn of the twenty-first century, discussing the rapid developments in technologies that has allowed India and China to become part of a growing supply chain of manufacturing impacting global markets.

Explores various trends in institutions such as education, business, medicine, science, and criminal justice; and examines the causes and consequences of some of these fads, and why people seem to follow them.

Explains and analyzes over 175 of the key historical and philosophical ideas that have shaped the world since the origins of civilization, and includes illustrations, cross-references, and suggestions for further reading.