How to Innovate

More about the book

This work explores lessons on fostering innovation and creative thinking from the ancient Greeks, who significantly transformed the world between 800 and 300 BCE with groundbreaking inventions such as democracy, the alphabet, philosophy, and more. Their achievements were no coincidence; the Greeks recognized the importance of new ideas and were the first to document concepts of innovation, even coining a term for creating something new. This text serves as an engaging introduction to key ideas and examples of innovation from ancient Greece. Armand D'Angour offers lively translations of works by Aristotle, Diodorus, and Athenaeus, pairing them with the original Greek text. These writings reveal timeless principles for innovation, including the adaptation of existing ideas, the fusion of diverse elements, and the critique of the status quo. The narrative includes compelling stories, such as Archimedes's famous "Eureka!" moment and Aristotle's insights on change and political innovation. Additionally, it discusses how competition and disruption spurred advancements in Greek warfare and the arts. Overall, this exploration provides valuable insights into how change occurs and how it can be actively cultivated.