The Innovators is the latest from Walter Isaacson, well-known for his recent biography of Steve Jobs. As such, this new book has met with acclaim – starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews, plus articles in The Wall Street Journal and many more. I was fascinated by Isaacson’s first chapter about Ada Lovelace and how she anticipated many aspects of computers a century before they came into use… who is dreaming of connections today that our grandchildren will see in their lifetime?
However, I did feel that the chapters were a little long and
I wished that he had been able to jump more quickly to present day icons in the
field, particularly as I contemplated handing this book (560 pages!) to my high
school students. Many of them have
requested books about Jobs and other entrepreneurs. I am honestly not sure if The
Innovators will hold their attention, particularly since they do not
have the cultural and life experiences which would make it more relevant for
any reader. I think it will have greater appeal amongst our faculty,
particularly those who teach Business or Economics, and who may select a
chapter or two to share with students as they explore the importance of
teamwork and collaboration in relation to innovation.
In compiling and sharing numerous facts and jargon, Isaacson
includes images of inventors, plus discussion of parallel developments and “what
ifs.” Other titles about innovators which my students have found useful: They Made America by
Evans, Branding of America, and Inventors who Left their Brands on
America (shelved at 658.8). I like
the latter’s emphasis on resilience, on taking risks and failing before finding
success. These three titles all feature a relatively few pages about each of a
myriad of entrepreneurs from many fields. As such, they provide a great
starting point for exploring factors which can lead to entrepreneurial success.
