The Shortest History of Innovation
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The Shortest History of Innovation

Andrew Leigh
Black Inc., 2026
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Editorial Rating

8

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Recommendation

Contrary to popular mythology, groundbreaking innovations rarely emerge from one individual’s sudden flash of inspiration. In this engaging read, economist Andrew Leigh offers a sweeping overview of the history of innovation, from ancient developments in agriculture to the mechanical wonders of the Industrial Revolution, to the rapid technological advancements of the digital age. Throughout, Leigh emphasizes the importance of experimentation, teamwork, and the exchange of ideas — strategies innovators still use today. His anecdotes and humor will appeal to anyone seeking inspiration to innovate.

Summary

Innovation depends on people experimenting with and exchanging ideas.

People often think that innovation happens when a lone, groundbreaking thinker experiences a sudden flash of inspiration. But innovation — developing a new product or process and making it available to others — often involves building on existing ideas. It also tends to emerge from numerous people working together, putting in long hours of trial and error. For example, when microbiologist Alexander Fleming noted that an unexpected mold growth killed the bacteria in his lab in 1928, he didn’t start manufacturing penicillin — he published a paper. A team of Oxford scientists, working a decade later, isolated penicillin for medicinal use. American pharmaceutical companies mass-produced the antibiotic during World War II.

Innovations frequently emerge from environments that facilitate:

  • “Tinkering” — Potential inventors often experiment with similar ideas at the same time. More than 20 people, for example, invented incandescent light bulbs before Thomas Edison invented his version. The willingness of Edison’s lab to experiment with...

About the Author

Former professor of economics Andrew Leigh is a member of the Australian parliament and also wrote The Shortest History of Economics.

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