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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Although the information is good, I felt tired of the "landscape" analogy as it seemed to be shoe-horned into every example
informative
medium-paced
What a wonderful book! Andreas Wagner takes us though numerous insights about the fundamental laws of creativity and innovation. I have already begun re-reading and will continue exploring the concepts Wagner has beautifully illustrated and their profound implications further.
I haven't had so much fun reading a science book in a loooong time. Andreas Wagner explores three different topics, all dealing with reaching the best solution in a complex landscape: evolution, molecular bonds and creativity. And it's impressive how well he linked them in this book.
We've all heard about 'survival of the fittest', but in reality evolution is usually 'survival of the good enough'. Wagner points out that if we consider biological designs (and here I don't mean anything religious, just the biochemical and physico-chemical properties of living organisms) as a complex mountainous landscape, we can immediately realize there are a lot of smaller peaks surrounding, or needing to be traversed in order to reach that highest peak. The problem is that evolution is a one-way engine: up you go, or your genes perish. But how can species avoid getting stuck on a molehill and advance toward a higher peak? Here it's important to keep in mind that the genetic landscape is not really a 3-D space. It's a multi-dimensional space, where multiple factors influence fitness in a given environment. And this multi-dimensionality actually makes it easier to adapt (although it makes it harder for our brains to visualize such an journey). Wagner does offer a great example of how adding one dimension actually makes it easier for cross a valley: in a 2-D space the only way through a valley is to sink all the way to the bottom. In 3-D, you may be able to go around the rim of the valley without needing to descend (or severely compromise your fitness). How do we achieve the tools to traverse this landscape? Wagner offers two well studied mechanisms: genetic drift and sex/gene recombination.
He then proceeds to talk about complex molecules and how atoms bind together to achieve the lowest energy state (for molecules, best 'fitness' is actually defined by energetic valleys - the least energy, the more stable the molecule is). In chemistry too molecules can get stuck in an intermediary 'good-enough' state. The only way out is through thermal agitation - a.k.a. heat.
And now we're ready to discuss creativity. Because genetic drift, heat and recombination can be equated to mechanisms that increase human creativity and aid problem solving. Wagner is not the first and he won't be the last to deplore our increased reliance on standardized test and scores to select 'value'. And he brings great arguments for why a rigid, homogenized evaluation and teaching curricula decreases innovation and cripples problem solving. In an inpatient society, educational system and academia there is little room for failure, yet failure is necessary. Failure and inferior ideas become stepping stones for better ideas, and second chances become vital. Yet we discourage creativity in favor of 'do more of what already works' despite knowing that it negatively impacts our society. The author even goes so far as equating the SAT style of exams with an engine that can only go uphill - and worse yet, can only go up the same hill! And "When everybody scrambles up the same hill, a landscape of knowledge remains unexplored.
So what can we do to foster creativity? The author doesn't suggest we need to stop teaching students information - after all, as Pasteur said, "Chance favors the prepared mind." And competition is definitely beneficial, although not the end all be all. What he recommends is more patience in the educational space, more time to play (for children and adults) and more safety nets in those areas where creativity is highly needed (for e.g. the implementation of safe funding for researchers which won't be taken away if the first endeavor fails; that way they can focus on innovating and not securing funding for non-risky projects which innovate less). He also argues in favor of trans-disciplinary and trans-cultural collaborations (as you might expect, there is a direct correlation between innovation and immigration).
One topic the author discussed was very dear to my mind: that of incubation. We've all noticed that taking time away from a trying to solve a problem improves our ability to come up with solutions. Here vacation time, performing easy tasks, and engaging in creative activities can help. I was surprised how many examples were given of big Nobel prize winners who argued for allowing researchers to engage in artistic endeavors. E.g., Cajal argued in favor of choosing students "with an abundance of restless imagination, [who] spend their energy in the pursuit of literature, art, philosophy and the recreations of mind and body. To him who observes them from afar, it appears as though they are scattering and dissipating their energies, while in reality, they are channeling and strengthening them."
Ultimately, the book argues in favor of slowing down and taking more time to travel, especially for those domains dependent on innovation. Because, as Albert Szent-Gyorghyi of Vitamin C fame said: "Discovery consists of looking at the same things as everyone else and seeing something different."
We've all heard about 'survival of the fittest', but in reality evolution is usually 'survival of the good enough'. Wagner points out that if we consider biological designs (and here I don't mean anything religious, just the biochemical and physico-chemical properties of living organisms) as a complex mountainous landscape, we can immediately realize there are a lot of smaller peaks surrounding, or needing to be traversed in order to reach that highest peak. The problem is that evolution is a one-way engine: up you go, or your genes perish. But how can species avoid getting stuck on a molehill and advance toward a higher peak? Here it's important to keep in mind that the genetic landscape is not really a 3-D space. It's a multi-dimensional space, where multiple factors influence fitness in a given environment. And this multi-dimensionality actually makes it easier to adapt (although it makes it harder for our brains to visualize such an journey). Wagner does offer a great example of how adding one dimension actually makes it easier for cross a valley: in a 2-D space the only way through a valley is to sink all the way to the bottom. In 3-D, you may be able to go around the rim of the valley without needing to descend (or severely compromise your fitness). How do we achieve the tools to traverse this landscape? Wagner offers two well studied mechanisms: genetic drift and sex/gene recombination.
He then proceeds to talk about complex molecules and how atoms bind together to achieve the lowest energy state (for molecules, best 'fitness' is actually defined by energetic valleys - the least energy, the more stable the molecule is). In chemistry too molecules can get stuck in an intermediary 'good-enough' state. The only way out is through thermal agitation - a.k.a. heat.
And now we're ready to discuss creativity. Because genetic drift, heat and recombination can be equated to mechanisms that increase human creativity and aid problem solving. Wagner is not the first and he won't be the last to deplore our increased reliance on standardized test and scores to select 'value'. And he brings great arguments for why a rigid, homogenized evaluation and teaching curricula decreases innovation and cripples problem solving. In an inpatient society, educational system and academia there is little room for failure, yet failure is necessary. Failure and inferior ideas become stepping stones for better ideas, and second chances become vital. Yet we discourage creativity in favor of 'do more of what already works' despite knowing that it negatively impacts our society. The author even goes so far as equating the SAT style of exams with an engine that can only go uphill - and worse yet, can only go up the same hill! And "When everybody scrambles up the same hill, a landscape of knowledge remains unexplored.
So what can we do to foster creativity? The author doesn't suggest we need to stop teaching students information - after all, as Pasteur said, "Chance favors the prepared mind." And competition is definitely beneficial, although not the end all be all. What he recommends is more patience in the educational space, more time to play (for children and adults) and more safety nets in those areas where creativity is highly needed (for e.g. the implementation of safe funding for researchers which won't be taken away if the first endeavor fails; that way they can focus on innovating and not securing funding for non-risky projects which innovate less). He also argues in favor of trans-disciplinary and trans-cultural collaborations (as you might expect, there is a direct correlation between innovation and immigration).
One topic the author discussed was very dear to my mind: that of incubation. We've all noticed that taking time away from a trying to solve a problem improves our ability to come up with solutions. Here vacation time, performing easy tasks, and engaging in creative activities can help. I was surprised how many examples were given of big Nobel prize winners who argued for allowing researchers to engage in artistic endeavors. E.g., Cajal argued in favor of choosing students "with an abundance of restless imagination, [who] spend their energy in the pursuit of literature, art, philosophy and the recreations of mind and body. To him who observes them from afar, it appears as though they are scattering and dissipating their energies, while in reality, they are channeling and strengthening them."
Ultimately, the book argues in favor of slowing down and taking more time to travel, especially for those domains dependent on innovation. Because, as Albert Szent-Gyorghyi of Vitamin C fame said: "Discovery consists of looking at the same things as everyone else and seeing something different."
This year, I’ve been diving into nonfiction and science books more than ever, thanks, in part, to my husband’s interest in reading about animals and trees, which hooked me. So when I walked past a display of science books at Grand Rapids Public Library, I couldn’t help but snag one. Dr. Andreas Wagner’s "Life Finds a Way: What Evolution Teaches Us About Creativity" has a stunning cover — a mosaic of brilliantly-colored moths. I sat down in a chair and was engulfed in the profund insights Dr. Wagner offers. If you don’t get any farther than this first paragraph, let me say that I highly recommend reading this book.
At first, I thought this book was a “how-to” book — how to be creative, how to tap into creativity, how to use ideas from evolution to be more creatively productive. Instead, this book delves into how everything living has evolved in a time-old ballet of creativity, innovation, and trial-and-error. I learned so much about biology, genetics, atoms, and how our minds work, and I finished the entire book (over 200 pages of heavily scientific text) in five days.
Dr. Wagner does a fantastic job of explaining complicated scholarly ideas, and in the last section, he applies the principles and thinking he’s detailed to education, immigration, technological advancement, and play, asserting that, more or less, we’re doing it all wrong. Rather than rewarding competition, conformity, and practicality, Dr. Wagner insists that we’ll be a more innovative, kinder world by encouraging mistakes, collaboration, and geographic mobility. His well-argued ideas remind me of Ms. Frizzle’s wise adage: “Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!”
Full review at: https://hyypeonline.com/2019/09/04/lifefindsaway/
At first, I thought this book was a “how-to” book — how to be creative, how to tap into creativity, how to use ideas from evolution to be more creatively productive. Instead, this book delves into how everything living has evolved in a time-old ballet of creativity, innovation, and trial-and-error. I learned so much about biology, genetics, atoms, and how our minds work, and I finished the entire book (over 200 pages of heavily scientific text) in five days.
Dr. Wagner does a fantastic job of explaining complicated scholarly ideas, and in the last section, he applies the principles and thinking he’s detailed to education, immigration, technological advancement, and play, asserting that, more or less, we’re doing it all wrong. Rather than rewarding competition, conformity, and practicality, Dr. Wagner insists that we’ll be a more innovative, kinder world by encouraging mistakes, collaboration, and geographic mobility. His well-argued ideas remind me of Ms. Frizzle’s wise adage: “Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!”
Full review at: https://hyypeonline.com/2019/09/04/lifefindsaway/
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This is a 2.5 for me. I thought this book would be completely about creativity and how evolution may have transpired to allow it to be more so. I got some of that in the last third. The book was fine, just not what I thought it would be. Took me a while to get through it too. I did not feel compelled to finish it, and getting through it felt more like a chore than enjoyment.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced