If there is one book you read this year, make it this one: Amazing!

I’ll admit this straight up. I’m one of the many people who is starting to tire of the innovation word, so when I picked up the book, Innovation Tools (https://amzn.com/B01F3NDLP4), it was with a dose of skepticism. However, by the time I had finished the book, I realized it was probably the best book I have read this year. Why you may ask?

The book is tackling something too many people are avoiding: What are the concrete tools to make innovation a low risk activity? And I’m not talking about another framework or methodology like the Lean Startup but actual practical tools to make innovation a more successful activity. It was between the covers of Innovation Tools that I discovered a treasure trove of powerful tools to effectively implement my ideas but at the same time minimize risk and hence maximize the chances of success.

All the most important things such as crowdsourcing, open innovation and much more are in there but also really exciting and new topics such as behavioral innovation were also there. The book is clearly written and told through case studies and the stories of people successfully using these tools every day.

The best part? The discovery of the virtuous innovation cycle. I hadn’t heard of this before but it was a real eye opener. I finally discovered something in a book which is both deep and very practical. It shows how the simple innovation tools go beyond just improving your one off projects and shows how they tie into a much bigger picture which could really become the most powerful innovation catalyst around.