Discover how adversity fuels monumental achievements with 'Radical Innovators' by Anton Blok, a compelling 300-page exploration of the lives of revered pioneers in science and art over the last five centuries. This engaging book examines nearly ninety radical innovators including luminaries such as Erasmus, Darwin, Curie, and Einstein, showcasing their unique stories of transformation. Blok argues that it was not merely talent that sparked innovation, but rather the challenges and exclusions each faced throughout their journeys. For example, Beethoven's deafness allowed for deeper exploration in music, while Darwin's health concerns facilitated focused work away from societal distractions. This insightful collective biography reveals how social exclusion—stemming from adversity like poverty, neurological disorders, or minority status—empowered these innovators to question norms and redefine their fields. 'Radical Innovators' challenges traditional views on innovation, emphasizing that great advances often emerge from unplanned and unscripted environments. Ideal for scholars, aspiring innovators, and anyone fascinated by history's most significant contributions to knowledge and culture, this book is a must-read. Free shipping is available for this item, and delivery may take up to 6 weeks. Please note that once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781509505524
Year: 2016
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (UK)
Pages: 300


Description:
In this book leading cultural anthropologist Anton Blok sheds new light on the lives and achievements of pioneers who revolutionized science and art over the past five centuries, demonstrating that adversity rather than talent alone was crucial to their success. Through a collective biography of some ninety radical innovators, including Erasmus, Spinoza, Newton, Bach, Sade, Darwin, Melville, Mendel, CĂ©zanne, Curie, Brâncusi, Einstein, Wittgenstein, Keynes, and Goodall, Blok shows how a significant proportion in fact benefited from social exclusion. Beethoven™s increasing deafness isolated him from his friends, creating more time for composing and experimenting, while Darwin™s chronic illness gave him an excuse to avoid social gatherings and get on with his work. Adversity took various forms, including illegitimate birth, early parental loss, conflict with parents, bankruptcy, chronic illness, physical deficiencies, neurological and genetic disorders, minority status, peripheral origins, poverty, exile, and detention. Blok argues, however, that all these misfortunes had the same effect: alienation from mainstream society. As outsiders, innovators could question conventional beliefs and practices. With little to lose, they could take chances and exploit opportunities. With governments, universities and industry all emphasizing the importance of investing in innovation, typically understood to mean planned and focussed research teams, this book runs counter to conventional wisdom. For far more often, radical innovation in science and art is entirely unscripted, resulting from trial and error