The Selfish Gene, The Cluetrain Manifesto, Freakonomics⦠people keep reading those books, writing about those books, being guided by the ideas contained in them and live content in the knowledge that those are all the right ideas because these are all the right books. Really, this is just another echo chamber and I swear that if I hear once again that âfoo is a conversationâ? Iâll scream.
Yes, Iâm a contrary bastard. For example, the first serious book I read after moving to San Francisco was Ayn Randâs âAtlas Shruggedâ? (shhh, donât tell anyone or I might get lynched). Why do that? Because I find inspiration in the words of people who think differently. Different from me and (most) everyone around me. There are many reasons why something is different, Rand belongs to a different school of thought than do most San Franciscans but hereâs another kind of different: old.
Last year, Prof. Wolber recommended we read âAs we may think.â? Vannevar Bush wrote that paper over 60 years ago but the ideas in it not only describe the last 10 years and the so called Web 2.0 revolution they call for more! Iâm starting to read up on Bucky Fuller
Reading thinkers from different disciplines and seeing how their thoughts affect your world can be a great source for new ideas and new insights. I think I might have to read some more architects, âForm follows functionâ? sounds like a great idea.
Then thereâs the classic âcrazyâ? different. Ted Nelson may never get to see his Xanadu but some of his ideas can be an inspiration to anyone involved in information technology today. At this point, Iâm required to finish this post (see Kingâs law of Internet Discourse) but I hope Iâve at least inspired you to dig into Amazonâs archives, find some different thinkers and see what the world looks like through different glasses.
Filed under: General
