Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation
by Steven Johnson. Riverhead Books, 2010
Protecting our ideas from others may mean they never see the light, according to Steven Johnson in his new book, Where Good Ideas Come From. By sharing these thoughts, however, we can connect with our peers and contribute to powerful networks that “shape the flow of information and inspiration.” Take the invention of GPS. This handy navigation system was originally invented because scientists were trying to determine the precise location of the Russian satellite Sputnik at any moment as it traveled.
Johnson argues that although we tend to think that good ideas emerge from our mental prowess, our environment provides an equally crucial influence. If we isolate ourselves from the intellectual influence of others, good ideas rarely develop. Johnson illustrates this point by discussing research by psychologist Kevin Dunbar, who studied how scientists work in the laboratory. Dunbar set up cameras to watch and listen in and found that the most important ideas were not generated by individuals but by groups of scientists who exchanged information in lab meetings.
Johnson also tells us that eureka moments are rare. The best new ideas develop by gradually adding bits of complexity to older ideas. For instance, the Web has become increasingly complex since it was invented 20 years ago. From just a few thousand Web sites, the network has ballooned to more than 100 million sites with 25 billion pages of information.
Sometimes, however, ideas can be too advanced for their time. Charles Babbage, for instance, spent 30 years developing the Difference Engine, which 100 years later would become the basis for the modern computer. The problem, Johnson tells us, is that Babbage had envisioned a tremendously complex machine in the middle of the steam-powered age. He had no one to share and combine ideas with, which, according to Johnson, stalled the birth of his innovation.
Johnson successfully synthesizes the main point of this book when he likens ideas to neurons in the brain. A single neuron firing alone produces nothing. It is when thousands of neurons fire in sync that an idea is born.
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8 Comments
Add CommentSo Johnson wrote this book in a group? Oh, he was alone? Can't be a great book then, according to him...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGood one promytius... you joker you. Clearly he has collaborated on this book with others, and he didn't say good ideas CAN'T come from individuals, just that we can often stifle ourselves by trying to keep our ideas secret when collaboration can often bring about even better results. A fresh take on an idea will offer novel ideas that your one little brain and all it's perceptive biases could miss.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt is very strange publication - in fact any idea belongs it to one author or group is some kind of a semifinished item, from the point of view of inventors of this idea it is a semifinished item allows to increase for example in the future what term of operation that devices, but there is one more factor is a skill level of the separate expert or a commission of experts, for example - for given time there are two models of the globe Static and Dynamic (www.mammoths.50megs.com) what explanation the author of this clause can give, that the status Dynamic does not admit; the answer can be only one - or the author of Dynamic model the layman, or such skill level of experts; and in fact it is that case " The best new ideas develop by gradually adding bits of complexity to older ideas "
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe message is clear and I agree. Beyond any joke or black humor S. Johnson is as clear as rain. The good ideas is a matter of team job. The genial ideas instead... Well... We can talk.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe message is clear and I agree. Beyond any joke or black humor S. Johnson is as clear as rain. The good ideas is a matter of team job. The genial ideas instead... Well... We can talk.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt is true that best ideas develop by the synergy of a team but another truth is that each member of the team thinks the idea was their own! - which creates another complex issue-
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMaybe if I collaborated I could present a better comment than this.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDon't be afraid of collaborating. According to David , good ideas don't come from individuals. I think yours is a good example !
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