{"product_id":"radical-innovators-the-blessings-of-adversity-in-science-and-art-1500-2000-hardback-9781509505517","title":"Radical Innovators; The Blessings of Adversity in Science and Art, 1500-2000 (Hardback) 9781509505517","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eRadical Innovators\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Blessings of Adversity in Science and Art, 1500-2000\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eAnton Blok (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781509505517, Polity Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 25 November 2016\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e300 pages\u003cbr\u003e23.1 x 15.5 x 2.5 cm, 0.522 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e�Theories of innovation may seem to be a monopoly of economists, but Anton Blok, an anthropologist who has studied history and is interested in psychology, has produced a new and powerful answer to the questions, Who becomes an innovator? And what drives them?�\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Peter Burke, University of Cambridge\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e �Anton Blok has solved the riddle of genius. What does it take to become a �radical innovator� in art or science? Childhood adversity and the attendant social exclusion, early and complete concentration in a chosen field, and a lifelong, total devotion to the self-imposed task. One can only wonder what youthful fate and adult commitment enabled Blok to achieve his radically innovative account of artistic and scientific creativity in this highly readable book.�\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Abram de Swaan, University of Amsterdam\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eIn this book leading cultural anthropologist Anton Blok sheds new light on the lives and achievements of pioneers who revolutionized science and art over the past five centuries, demonstrating that adversity rather than talent alone was crucial to their success. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough a collective biography of some ninety radical innovators, including Erasmus, Spinoza, Newton, Bach, Sade, Darwin, Melville, Mendel, Cézanne, Curie, Brâncusi, Einstein, Wittgenstein, Keynes, and Goodall, Blok shows how a significant proportion in fact benefited from social exclusion. Beethoven’s increasing deafness isolated him from his friends, creating more time for composing and experimenting, while Darwin’s chronic illness gave him an excuse to avoid social gatherings and get on with his work. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdversity took various forms, including illegitimate birth, early parental loss, conflict with parents, bankruptcy, chronic illness, physical deficiencies, neurological and genetic disorders, minority status, peripheral origins, poverty, exile, and detention. Blok argues, however, that all these misfortunes had the same effect: alienation from mainstream society. As outsiders, innovators could question conventional beliefs and practices. With little to lose, they could take chances and exploit opportunities. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith governments, universities and industry all emphasizing the importance of investing in innovation, typically understood to mean planned and focussed research teams, this book runs counter to conventional wisdom. For far more often, radical innovation in science and art is entirely unscripted, resulting from trial and error by individuals ready to take risks, fail, and start again.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eContents\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Foreword\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 1 The margins as a place of innovation\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 2 Sibling rivalry\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 3 Heuristic exceptions\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 4 Adversity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 5 Chance and necessity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 6 The periphery as a locus of innovation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Appendices\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Index of names\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Index of subjects\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Archaeology [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Archaeology\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Archaeology%20%5BHD%5D%22\"\u003eHD\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Polity","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52441781403928,"sku":"9781509505517","price":45.78,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781509505517.jpg?v=1785024800","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/radical-innovators-the-blessings-of-adversity-in-science-and-art-1500-2000-hardback-9781509505517","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}