Rebel Ideas - by Matthew Syed (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Rebel Ideas will strengthen any kind of team, while including advice on how, as individuals, we can embrace the potential of an "outsider mind-set" as our greatest asset.

Ideas are everywhere, but those with the greatest problem-solving, business-transforming, and life-changing potential are often hard to identify. Even when we recognize good ideas, applying them to everyday obstacles--whether in the workplace, our homes, or our civic institutions--can seem insurmountable. According to Matthew Syed, it doesn't have to be this way.

In Rebel Ideas, Syed argues that our brainpower as individuals isn't enough. To tackle problems from climate change to economic decline, we'll need to employ the power of "cognitive diversity." Drawing on psychology, genetics, and beyond, Syed uses real-world scenarios including the failings of the CIA before 9/11 and a communication disaster at the peak of Mount Everest to introduce us to the true power of thinking differently.

Review Quotes

"A master of the genre"--The Times

Praise for Rebel Ideas

"Striking...As Mr. Syed writes, the willingness to share knowledge pays off in a world of complexity." - The Economist

"Compelling...argue[s] persuasively that cognitive diversity boosts collective intelligence." - The Times

"A gripping read, full of intelligence and perspective." - James Dyson

"On a vital and still-overlooked topic, Matthew Syed has assembled a compelling base of
evidence....A stunning achievement." - Tim Harford, author of The Undercover Economist

Praise for Black Box Thinking

"Gladwell-like -journalistic verve and often moving case histories." - The New York Times

"A stirring call to redefine failure...Black Box Thinking will forever change the way you think about screwing up." - Daniel Pink, author of Drive and To Sell Is Human

Praise for Bounce

"Blasts through the stubborn idea that 'talent' is an innate genetic gift possessed only by the lucky few....A fresh perspective." - NPR

"The most important book I've read over the past six months." - Peter Orszag, economist, in The New York Times

About the Author