My latest read

Hi,

The pictures you see above are those of successful businessmen, inventors, chefs and scientists who went against the grain and conventional believes.

Why am writing about them? I have just finished reading "The Medici Effect". I bought this book during a teachers' seminar some time in May or June this year at which the author was an invited speaker. However, due to my being busy with school work, I was only able to read a few chapters before the school holidays started in November.

I remember Mr Frans Johansson, the tall, young, handsome and animated author of the book. He was there in person sharing juicy bits of the book with us. He looks like the president-elect of America, Mr Barack Obama. He is of mixed parentage, his mother is African-American with some Cherokee blood and his father is Swedish.

You can view a Youtube video below (produced by Channel News Asia) to find out what the author himself said about his book. I hope you will jump up after that and go get hold of the book asap.




If you have watched this interview, then you know the reason for the book's title and what "The Intersection" is. It was Newton who said, "If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants". 'The Medici Effect' has a different take on the idea that progress is built on the achievements of others. Johansson says that if we can in effect stand on multiple shoulders at once, we won't only see further but will see in entirely new ways (around corners, perhaps?). In other words, there is a multiplier effect from taking influences from many, unrelated areas.

By coincidence, today, 29 November, is the anniversary of the first demonstration of the phonograph, a brilliant innovation and precursor to vinyl records and CDs, by Edison. This was not just an improvement on a previous invention (as his famous light bulb was) but something totally new. The public was astounded. A large part of this achievement was due to the world's first industrial research lab that Edison set up. Edison drew upon experts in many fields to extend the range of his own potential.

The following is a list of interesting people, some of whom are pictured above, and their innovations and inventions mentioned in "The Medici Effect".
See if you can match the names with their contributions to society:

1. Anders Håkan Lans
2. Richard Branson
3. Luis Alvarez
4. Richard Garfield
5. Charles Darwin
6. Deepak Chopra
7. Richard Dawkins
8. Marcus Samuelson
9. Linus Torvalds


A) Swedish inventor of numerous computer and telecommunication systems

B) Well known for the selfish gene theory to explain human and cultural traits

C) Operated a well known restaurant that is the zenith of innovation

D) Wrote the controversial book called "Origin of species"

E) Game designer who created the collectible card game called "Magic"

F) Geologist who expounded the most accepted theory of what killed off the dinosaurs

G) Crazy man who has great fun in founding new and highly successful businesses, eg Virgin Blue airlines, Virgin Music, space tourism etc

H) One of the greatest of leaders in mind-body medicine

I) Developed the concept of open source/free operating system "Linux"


You can google the names I have given above and match them with their contributions listed A to I.

OR

You can get a copy of the book from the National Library and read it to find the secret of how these people turned ideas into path-breaking innovations, business plans and inventions.

The first person to post the correct answers in the comments box can come to see me in school to receive a small token of reward.

Happy reading,
Cheers