From the wheel to generative AI, new ideas have shaped our world. Innovation influences almost every aspect of our lives, from tools and technologies to fresh approaches in art and architecture, yet we rarely pause to notice it. Someone had to invent nails and buttonholes; alphabets and books; glass windows and windscreen wipers; tin cans and synthetic dyes. Andrew Leigh, the bestselling author of The Shortest History of Economics, tells the story of human innovation by identifying three of its most essential driving forces: tinkering, teams and trade. He examines hotbeds of creativity, the forces that suppress them and the unexpected ways ideas travel across borders and disciplines. Unveiling the surprising agents behind everyday innovations we take for granted, he revisits history with fresh eyes and deftly connects it to the rapid innovation taking place today. Dazzling and always entertaining, The Shortest History of Innovation is a compact but comprehensive look at the engines that power progress.

Why You Should Read?

• Discover the fundamental forces driving human innovation throughout history.
• Gain insights into how everyday inventions, often overlooked, have profoundly impacted society.
• Explore the surprising origins and spread of ideas across different cultures and fields.
• Understand the historical context of rapid innovation in the modern world.

About the Author

Andrew Leigh is an Australian economist, academic, and politician. He has served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2010, representing the division of Fenner. Before entering politics, Leigh was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. He is known for his research on inequality, social mobility, and public policy, and has authored several books, including the bestselling The Shortest History of Economics.