Life Finds a Way, Andreas Wagner
Life Finds a Way, Andreas Wagner
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Life Finds a Way
What Evolution Teaches Us About Creativity

Author: Andreas Wagner

Narrator: Alex Hyde-White

Unabridged: 7 hr 33 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Basic Books

Published: 06/11/2019

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

How the principles of biological innovation can help us overcome creative challenges in art, business, and science
In Life Finds a Way, biologist Andreas Wagner reveals the deep symmetry between innovation in biological evolution and human cultural creativity. Rarely is either a linear climb to perfection--instead, "progress" is typically marked by a sequence of peaks, plateaus, and pitfalls. For instance, in Picasso's forty-some iterations of Guernica, we see the same combination of small steps, incessant reshuffling, and large, almost reckless, leaps that characterize the way evolution transformed a dinosaur's grasping claw into a condor's soaring wing. By understanding these principles, we can also better realize our own creative potential to find new solutions to adversity.
Ultimately, Life Finds a Way offers a new framework for the nature of creativity, enabling us to better adapt, grow, and change in art, business, or science--that is, in life.

Author Bio

Andreas Wagner is a professor and chairman at the department of evolutionary biology and environmental studies at the University of Zurich. He is the author of four books on evolutionary innovation, including Life Finds a Way, which is also published by Oneworld. He lives in Zurich.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kelsey

This year, I’ve been diving into nonfiction and science books more than ever, thanks, in part, to my husband’s interest in reading about animals and trees, which hooked me. So when I walked past a display of science books at Grand Rapids Public Library, I couldn’t help but snag one. Dr. Andreas Wagn......more

Goodreads review by Sara

I was so looking forward to this book, but I found it pretty... eh. For an evolution book, there were extremely few examples of ... evolution or even genes. You hope to read about animals, but instead you're treated to analogies of convoluted computer models. It's a good analogy, but seemed better s......more

Goodreads review by Daniel

What a wonderful book! Andreas Wagner takes us though numerous insights about the fundamental laws of creativity and innovation. I have already begun re-reading and will continue exploring the concepts Wagner has beautifully illustrated and their profound implications further.......more

I was attracted to this book because I thought it was going to be able evolution and how different species creatively evolve. Boy, was I wrong. Instead, what Wagner does here is use different topics of population genetics to support how we creatively think and succeed as a human race. He does throw i......more