Taegan Lion
You might quite easily be fooled into thinking that innovation is something free-flowing and easy, but it’s not. Innovating is a skill, and like any skill, you need to work at it. Here are the 8 best books to read on innovation.
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#1 Walt Disney by Neal Gabler
While this book isn't directly about innovation, it is littered with inspiring tidbits and information about innovation. The story of Walt Disney's innovative journey to building one of the best animation studios of its time and growing it into the most influential media company today is the perfect example of innovation. From Disney's ideation process to team-building strategies, this book is filled with innovative ideas.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Sydney Liu from Commaful
#2 The Innovator’s Solution by Clayton Christensen
An older business strategy book that still has tremendous relevance today. Many of the strategies and analytical methods used in the book provide a unique lens on coming up with innovative ideas. The book tackles the critical question: Why do some innovations work and why do others fail to grow or get crushed by the competition?
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Contributors: Sydney Liu from Commaful
#3 The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Black Swans are a perfect explanation of what it takes for a new company or innovation to break through. The Black Swan process for thinking can really be used to analyze many everyday decisions, especially when it comes to decisions about innovation.
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Contributors: Sydney Liu from Commaful
#4 Machine That Changed the World by James P. Womack
Of all the books I have read the most impactful was 'The Machine That Changed the World' about the auto industry. The machine in the book's title is the modern auto company that churns out innovation and vehicles at an amazing rate. The car industry of 40 years is not recognizable in comparison with today. Companies are lean, agile and innovative and lead ALL industries in defining processes to eliminate waste, maximize quality, lower inventory etc.
People look at the gadget or Software as a Service industry for innovation but these innovations often ride on the back of changes that they don't control. The auto industry controls their industry and many others.
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Contributors: Ed
#5 How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal
How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal is a great read for anyone interested in creating innovative products that get used over and over again. The book includes case studies from successful companies such as Facebook and some of the best practices that they used to make their products stand out. If you want to brainstorm ideas to take your innovation to the next level, you'll want to check out this book.
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Contributors: Laura Cabrera from Outcry
#6 The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
In my opinion, not only is it a must for every entrepreneur, but every business owner should read it too. The book is important because it defines a framework for effective innovation. It explains why it is important to do small and quick steps when building a business while setting up a feedback loop with your users in order to keep improving it on the right direction, which is providing features your users actually need. This is opposed to the old traditional approach where you plan everything out according to your own personal vision.
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Contributors: Uri Abramson from Overdraft Apps
#7 Inside the Box by Drew Boyd and Jacob Goldenberg
This book teaches that breakthrough innovation comes from improving on the existing sources. The book outlines practical techniques that can be used to innovate, along with successful examples of companies who have done it.
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Contributors: Nela Dunato from Nela Dunato Art & Design
#8 Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Zero to One by Peter Thiel talks about how creating an entirely new category vs. incremental change – is the key to powerful innovation. Rather than being a competitor, Thiel suggests it's better to own a category and not compete with anyone – and his personal experience driving PayPal's beginnings back up his insights with relevant anecdotes that are highly enjoyable to read.
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Contributors: Tim Brown from Hook Agency
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