Books About Innovation?

[UKJohn]

I'd like to further my knowledge by having a read! I know there have been many discussions about the difference between innovation and creativity and this definition here, for me, is the definition I've made that currently suits my way of thinking:

When you're creative your mind is a playground where absolutely anything can happen. When you switch to innovation... reality bites!

So, with the long term view of pursuing a career that involves ideas and creativity in some way, I'm thinking I need to read up on innovation. What are the best books (or even websites too!) to start with? I read the Innovations Weblog and there are often terms I'm not familiar with and I'd like to know the foundations of how people 'out there' think about innovation and talk about it.

[James S H Johnston MBE]

Hi John

I have my own opinion about innovation - I would like to think about this before responding (now that's a first - for me) hehe!

I normally compare 'innovation & invention' - where invention is creation of something new, while innovation is the taking of a skill / process / material - designed for one particular aspect to be used / altered for another. (e.g. - velcro - copied process from plant life and used in material fastenings) that's innovative.....

Most of our current inventors are really innovators.....although some may argue this point

Jimmy

[kessam71]

My definition of creativity and innovation is similar to yours John:

Creativity - Generation of novel ideas i.e. the ideas are still abstractions

Innovation - Is the implementation of those ideas i.e. making those ideas reality

Here are some of my favorite books on innovation:
- Art of Innovation - Tom Kelley
- Innovation - Carlson and Wilmott
- How Breakthroughs Happen - Andrew Hargadon

Here are some good books on creativity:
- Whack on the side of the head - Roger Von Oech
- Aha - Jordan Ayan
- Cracking Creativity - Michalko

Some old books that are really really good, but hard to get hold of:
- The Act of Creation - Arthur Koestler
- The Mathematician's Mind - Hadamard --- don't be put off by the math connotation - this is a great little book on creating new ideas!

I have many more books, some of which you can find on my Amazon Listmanias and on my website:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/byauthor/A5IRMCAZ0DL5W/r...

http://www.metamemes.com/resources.php#creativity

These lists are a little dated, there are a lot of new books on innovation and creativity that come out every year, but only a few that are good.

Let me know if there are particular areas of innovation and creativity you want to learn and I can point you to some good books. The ones above are generic creativity and innovation books, but there are many different sub-groups:
- Innovation Management
- Innovation Methodology
- Ideation
- Creative Techniques

[UKJohn]

Kes...thanks very much for taking the time to point out these books. You probably won't be surprised to know that I'm already a proud owner of many books on creativity, so it's innovation I'd like to dip into! I have a decent pile of book vouchers I've collected over the Christmases and birthdays so I'll be diving into my nearest bookshop (which is pretty far from near actually) this week. I'll let you know which ones I like and I'll give feedback on how they change my thinking.

Also, there's one I hear about called "Ideas that stick". Is that a good read, do you know, Kes?

Thanks again

[kessam71]

I am not sure I am familiar with 'ideas that stick' I did a search on both amazon.com and amazon.co.uk and didn't find it. Did you mean 'Made to Stick' Chip and Dan Heath ? It is a great book, but it is more a marketing book BUT saying that there are some really important ideas in it that are valuable to innovators. I highly recommend the book, but it isn't explicitely about innovation.

Definitely let me know if you need more innovation book recommendations, I have many more depending on which areas you want to explore.

As you delve into innovation you will realize that it soons becomes a study into business process management, business metrics and organizational dynamics. Moving from innovating as an individual to innovating as a company is really about trying to build the right culture and provide the right environment, tools and methodology to allow groups of people to innovate.