Steven Johnson explores interesting territory with this book, in which he draws parallels to biological evolution to help explain the emergence of innovative ideas. Considering innovation through this lens helps to explain suppositions and suggest tactics for leaders to use in seeking innovation from teams.
Johnson’s work suggests that technological innovation can be considered as another manifestation of the “force of life”. And in this way, appears to be an interesting complement to a book coming from Kevin Kelly (“What Technology Wants”)
Additionally, he makes a compelling point that intellectual property rights are _not_ a requirement to enable innovation. However, in doing so, he doesn’t take the position that they are required. With this approach to intellectual property rights, he strikes an interesting middle ground between ideological camps.
He also does not strike either an “pro-technology” or a “doomsday” tone, which is refreshing to see in an otherwise frequently polarized topic.
As a writer, Johnson is the type of non-fiction author who can take a topic one might consider dry and make it compelling. Other books about innovation tend to be slow reads. That is not the case with this one… I found myself with enough momentum to read the end notes.
And to me, that was the clincher on deciding how to rate this book.
(Reviewed a free copy received via LibraryThing Early Reviewer program.) ( 
) reviewed by ricksbooks