Where are great ideas born?
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Steven Johnson attributes a great surge in human creativity to the rise of coffee and tea (until then, most Europeans drank alcohol all day because water wasn't safe), and argues coffeehouses are where "great ideas have sex."
In truth, Johnson says great ideas are not beautiful gems in-and-of themselves, but are cobbled together from what's available nearby. It's the pooling of different perspectives, not study in isolation, that leads to great breakthroughs. In his talk he takes us from Charles Darwin to Sputnik and G.P.S. to prove that "chance favors the connected mind."
Steven Johnson is the author of six books on the intersection of science, technology and personal experience, His most recent book "Where Good Ideas Come From: The History of Innovation" is due out next month.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.
