World Innovation

From gunpowder to generative AI, the forces of disruption are repeatedly rewriting the rules of business, society, and human possibility. But what drives these revolutionary changes? In Epic Disruptions, innovation expert Scott Anthony weaves together the stories behind history's most transformative disruptions.

Look out for Johnson’s new book, Wonderland, on sale November 15, 2016. From the New York Times–bestselling author of Where Good Ideas Come From and Everything Bad Is Good for You, a new look at the power and legacy of great ideas. In this illustrated history, Steven Johnson explores the...

The story of human civilization can be read most deeply in the materials we have found or created, used or abused. They have dictated how we build, eat, communicate, wage war, create art, travel, and worship. Some, such as stone, iron, and bronze, lend their names to the ages. Others, such as gold, silver, and diamond, contributed to the rise and fall of great empires.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A magisterial world history unlike any other that tells the story of humanity through the one thing we all have in common: families From the author of The Romanovs A Best Book of the Year: The New Yorker, Smithsonian “Succession meets Game of Thrones.”...

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR “A cri de coeur that takes aim at the tech industry for abandoning its history of helping America and its allies.”—The Wall Street Journal From the Palantir co-founder, one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of...

David Rowan travels the globe in search of the most exciting and pioneering start-ups building the future. He’s got to know the founders of WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google, Spotify, Xiaomi, Didi, Nest, Twitter and countless other ambitious entrepreneurs disrupting businesses in almost every sector. And yet too often the companies they’re disrupting don’t get it. They think they can innovate through jargon: with talk of change agents and co-creation gurus, ideas portals and webinars, make-a-thons and hackfests, paradigm shifts and pilgrimages to Silicon Valley. 

Ignorance may or may not be bliss. But the right kind of ignorance can be genius. Expertise in any field is ultimately important to success. But it usually comes with a problem—a tendency toward incremental change and to become limited by what we know and what has worked in the past. As a result, the most innovative thinking that has driven upstart companies and allowed old brands to stay relevant in a fast-changing world often comes when we leave behind what we know best and what’s considered “possible.”

One of the world's leading historians provides a revolutionary tour of the Ancient World, dusting off the classics for the twenty-first century. Mary Beard, drawing on thirty years of teaching and writing about Greek and Roman history, provides a panoramic portrait of the classical world, a book in which we encounter not only Cleopatra and Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Hannibal, but also the common people - the millions of inhabitants of the Roman Empire, the slaves, soldiers, and women.

This audiobook is masterfully read by the author, Mo Gawdat. One of The Sunday Times' Business Books of the Year Technology is putting our humanity at risk to an unprecedented degree. This book is not for engineers who write the code or the policy makers who claim they can regulate it. This is a...

Beneath the thunder of artillery and the roar of aerial dogfights, another war was unfolding—one fought in silence, in shadows, and behind sealed doors. The Secret Labs of WWII unveils the hidden world of scientific and technological warfare that helped determine the fate of nations. From bomb-ravaged Europe to the deserts of New Mexico, the book takes you inside the clandestine facilities where intellect rivalled infantry, and innovation became as deadly as any bullet.

Longlisted for the Porchlight Business Book Award for Current Events & Public Affairs Longlisted for the Non-Obvious Book Award 2025 A Next Big Idea Book Club March 2025 Must-Read An urgent and illuminating perspective that offers a window into how the most pernicious aspects of the venture...

📘 30 Black Inventors That Changed the World By Orlando Cole Brilliance has no color—but history often forgot that truth. In 30 Black Inventors That Changed the World, discover the untold stories of extraordinary men and women whose creativity, intelligence, and perseverance reshaped our modern world. These pioneers broke barriers, defied discrimination, and built innovations that power our everyday lives. From the light bulb and blood banks to GPS navigation and cell phones, this inspiring collection celebrates the innovators who proved that excellence rises above circumstance. ✨ ...

Is there a secret formula for getting rich? For going viral? For deciding how long to stick with your current job, Netflix series, or even relationship? This book is all about the equations that make our world go round. Ten of them, in fact. They are integral to everything from investment...

Part biography, part masterclass. The story of the man who built America — and what he can teach you about building anything. He built Hoover Dam ahead of schedule. He launched a 10,000-ton Liberty ship in four days. He reinvented how Americans access healthcare. All after leaving school at thirteen. Henry J. Kaiser is one of the most consequential figures in American history — and one of the least known. The Man Who Built America restores him to his rightful place, tracing the principles behind his extraordinary career: how an outsider kept walking into rooms where he had no business ...

The untold story of how Japan became a cultural superpower through the fantastic inventions that captured—and transformed—the world’s imagination. “A masterful book driven by deep research, new insights, and powerful storytelling.”—W. David Marx, author of Ametora: How Japan...

The dropping of two atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and their shocking aftermath finally ended World War II in the eastern theatre. But they weren't the only experimental weaponry at the time. In this fascinating account, Chris McNab examines the development of a range of hitherto unknown and at times shockingly effective weapons that were developed and unleashed on an unsuspecting world over the course of the war.

The Geek Way reveals a new way to get big things done and shows how to change the way you think about work, teams, projects, and culture, and give you the insight and tools you need to harness our human superpowers of learning and cooperation. "A handbook for disruptors." —Eric Schmidt What is...

Most of us take for granted the features of our modern society, from air travel and telecommunications to literacy and obesity. Yet for nearly all of its six million years of existence, human society had none of these things. While the gulf that divides us from our primitive ancestors may seem...

Unlock the Secrets to Wealth and Innovation with the Minds of Buffett and Musk! In Think Like Buffett, Act Like Musk, you’ll learn how to combine the timeless investing wisdom of Warren Buffett with the bold innovation and disruptive thinking of Elon Musk. This powerful guide will show you how to build lasting wealth, create world-changing impact, and leave a legacy that transcends time. What You’ll Discover: Master Timeless Financial Strategies: Learn how Buffett’s principles of value investing, patience, and long-term thinking can lay the foundation for consistent wealth growth and ...

Discover Secrets to Victory with this Strategic Knowledge Compass, your Ultimate Guide to Winning Wars & Keeping the Peace.Are you ready to master military strategy? Buy this book and you'll immediately get a comprehensive knowledge compass guiding you to winning military strategies from history. Packed with key insights and leadership lessons from the greatest military strategies in history! Discover the secrets to effective deterrence and victory in war, and learn how to apply strategic lessons to any challenge where clear thinking, bold decision-making, and effective execution are ...