How Innovation Works: Serendipity, Energy and the Saving of Time

A deep dive into the hidden drivers of human progress

Matt Ridley

2020

6 Key Insights

About This Book

Imagine unlocking the secrets of every breakthrough—from the first farmers planting seeds to engineers wiring the world with microchips. This journey reveals how unlikely ideas become everyday essentials and how you can harness the same patterns to spark change in your life. You’ll travel across 12 domains—energy, health, transport, food, low tech, and digital—to uncover simple principles that pets a dog to your brain’s wiring. Learn why tiny tweaks often dwarf big inventions, how serendipity and trial-and-error fuel progress, and why innovation blooms where freedom meets curiosity. Embrace the blueprint of human ingenuity and transform your world today.

About the Author

Matt Ridley is an acclaimed science writer and entrepreneur who has traced the arc of human progress in bestselling books. With a background in zoology and a passion for economic history, he brings complex ideas to life with clarity and wit. He’s written for The Economist, The Times, and National Geographic, and his TED talk on “rational optimism” has captivated global audiences.

Biggest Takeaway

You’ll master the mindset that spots “hidden” opportunities, apply step-by-step recipes for deliberate progress, and accelerate your small wins into lasting impact. Expect to overcome stubborn habits, solve problems with recombinant ingenuity, and build resilience through serendipity. By the end, obstacles will seem like stepping stones, your creative radar will expand, and you’ll navigate change with confidence—delivering smarter results at work, in your community, and at home.

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