the myths of innovation. Scott Berkun. 2007. ISBN 0596527055. This is a really good read! It includes thoughts on how individuals spread innovation and how society determines the impact. Its rally is a myth busting book. He reinforces the “lucky or smart” comments from “Fooled by Randomness”. Lots of great quotes . Steve Jobs, ” real artists ship.” Dewey, ” A problem, properly defined is partly solved”. A very good discussion on what Osborn really meant in “Applied Imagination” when inventing brainstorming. He felt that an equal amount of time needed to be spent on facts, ideas and solutions, people were to quick to jump to a solution. Another takeaway, No one knows what’s possible”. Some parallels in Godin’s rant on competence vs brilliance. i.e. Competent managers are scared to try anything new, since that threatens their competence. Great line on Frederick Taylor, he could have saved himself hours and hours of studies if he had asked the workers where the process was inefficient.

small is the new big. and 183 other riffs, rants and remarkable business ideas. Seth Godin. 2006. ISBN 1591841267. I think that Seth’s books are getting better. But this is not a book book, its a collection of articles, newsletters and blog posts. But it is real, quality, and very useful. Such useful ideas as, ” The best marketers, of course, use the needle and the vise at them same time:. They don’t assault, they don’t demand, instead they earn attention. And they apply their marketing pressure so consistently and in such a measured and relentless way that sooner or later, they profit from it. ” A great book if you want it in small lumps or more, It would be a good plane ride book, but bring a highlighter! I love this one
“I. Humans tend to work on a problem until they get a good enough solution, not a solution that’s right.
2. The marketplace often rewards solutions that are cheaper and good enough, instead of investing in the solution that promises to lead to the right answer.”