Like other people who write about, consult on , and do innovation, I get asked about books a lot. There are the basics you want to read like Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter Drucker, The Innovator’s Solution, Crossing the Chasm and others. I tend to want to read books that have more unconventional ideas in them, as well as some practicality.
With that said, here are a few books about innovation that I recommend you read:
1. The Innovator’s DNA – read my interview with the authors
2. The Innovation Killer – read my review
3. Practically Radical by William C. Taylor
4. Mavericks at Work by William C. Taylor
5. Disrupt by Luke Williams – read my review
6. Little Bets by Peter Sims – read my review
7. Demand by Adrian Slywotzky
8. Think Better by Tim Hurson
9 . The Little Black Book of Innovation by Scott D. Anthony
10. Innovation to the Core by Rowan Gibson
Look beyond the obvious
The process of creating new value through innovation is a system of knowledge, and there isn’t a book that covers everything. There’s decision making, there’s human behavior, there’s communication, there’s workplace environment, there’s the external environment, and a whole other factors that you need to understand if you really want to get deep into this. Not to mention getting down in the trenches!
As added value to the books above, also read biographies about innovators and entrepreneurs, as well as books/articles about how innovative companies work.
My list could very well change in the coming year, so think of these books as ones you would keep as a reference. Next year I’ll publish other books that have influenced my thinking that don’t have innovation in the title.
One more thing: everything is connected in some way, so read about anything and everything. Not just books that have “innovation” in the title.
What books about innovation do you have on your list?
Related Posts
Speed of Light Management: Why Most Companies Are Designed to Fail Slowly
Stop Competing With Giants. Make Them Compete With You Instead
The Power of Surprise: How Doing the Unexpected Changes Everything
The 10 Biggest Unseen Barriers That Prevent Innovation Inside Companies
The 12 Most Common Innovation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Asking Bigger Questions: The Gateway to True Innovation
Hi Jorge,
Thank you for this post – I am reading Clayton Christensen at the moment and it is great from theoretical standpoint.
I would add Lean Startup (2011) by Eric Reis – a fantastic book (wish it had more visuals, but the examples are brilliant!)
What are your thoughts on Vijay Govindarajan’s books around innovation?
These are the ones I am considering:
– Beyond the Idea: How to Execute Innovation in Any Organization (2013)
– The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge (2010)
– Reverse Innovation: Create Far From Home, Win Everywhere (2012)
– Ten Rules for Strategic Innovators: From Idea to Execution (2005)
@PavelBogdashov,
Christensen’s book is good. It’s a different lens to look through. If that intrigues you, make sure to also read “What customers want” by Anthony Ulwick of Strategyn, which puts Christensen’s ideas to practice.
I didn’t put Lean Startup in there because to me it’s just a lot of old ideas wrapped in a nice sounding title. I haven’t read it, but I know what it’s about since it comes packaged with Startup Weekend, which I founded in my hometown.
Another one to consider is “Designing for Growth”, which is practice oriented.
Regarding Vijay Govindarajan, have only read “Ten Rules for Strategic Innovators”, which I liked. He is more of an Academic than anything else, so I don’t pay much attention since I believe his ideas are more oriented towards fitting innovation into management, as opposed to rethinking it.
Truth is, I look for unconventional ideas. That’s why I added Maverick’s at Work and Practically Radical. There’s also The Future of Management by Hamel, Strategic Intuition by Duggan, and Different by Youngme Moon. Anything that breaks the mold, I’m reading!
Hope this helps!
It does help – thank you! I will use your recommendations to form a to-read list.
I noticed you had a book on Execution as well – Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan and Charles Burck.
What are you thoughts on it?
Thank you,
Pav
@PavelBogdashov,
Oh yes that is a good one. Read it a some time ago.
One of the better books on execution I’ve read is “Executing your Strategy”: http://www.amazon.com/Executing-Your-Strategy-Break-Down/dp/1591399564
Also, another question! I loved the new generation of Visual Books, like “Business Model Generation” by Alexander Osterwalder and “Back of the Napkin”, “Unfolding the Napkin” and “Blah, Blah, Blah” by Dan Roam.
What are the best Visual innovation books you have seen out there?
Hi @PavelBogdashov,
Yes I like those too. The following don’t have the word innovation written anywhere, but I’ve used them to improve my communication/storytelling skills:
> “The Art of Explanation”. It was written by one of the founders of Common Craft: http://www.commoncraft.com/art-explanation
> “The Sketchnote Handbook”: http://rohdesign.com/book/
They look great – will check them out!
Hwy Jorge, I know this is an old post, but wanted to check if you come across more great books on innovation?
Hi @PavelBogdashov,
Yes. I’ve actually reviewed them here:
http://www.game-changer.net/2014/04/21/creativity-inc-takes-build-sustain-culture-excellence/
and
http://www.game-changer.net/2014/01/16/innovation-book-review-disruption-revolution/
Also, there’s another one I should add to the initial list: Wide Lens by Ron Adner which talks more about how structure needs to exist for innovations to get to market and thrive.
I’ve also read The Box by Marc Levinson, which is about the story of the shipping container.
Cheers,
Jorge