Create the Future + The Innovation Handbook: Tactics for Disruptive Thinking

by Jeremy Gutsche

Learn to Innovate and Make Real Change

In our era of disruption and possibility, there are so many great opportunities within your grasp; however, most smart and successful people miss out. Unfortunately, your capabilities are limited by the seven traps of path dependency, which cause you to repeat past decisions. These traps can limit you from seeing the potential of what could be. If you could overcome these traps, what could you accomplish? How much more successful could you be?

Create the Future teaches you how to think disruptively, providing specific steps to create real innovation and change. This book combines Jeremy's high energy, provocative thinking with tactics that have been battle-tested through thousands of his team's projects advising leading innovators like Disney, Starbucks, Amex, IBM, Adidas, Google, and NASA.

On top of all that, this is a double-sided book., paired with The Innovation Handbook, a revised edition of Jeremy's award-winning book, Exploiting Chaos.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Personal Development

360 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2020

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeremy Gutsche's twin books of Create the Future + The Innovation Handbook appears very adroit, but no so innovative. I think he refers to Peter Drucker numerous times, while the business community has listened to his wisdom for over 50 years. So Gutsche offers some sound advice in a disjointed manner. I found the many graphics annoying and disruptive. Overall I found this to be old wine in a very colorful new bottle.

[Coleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this great book in a Goodreads giveaway.

I f you are ambitious and intelligent, this book was written for you. If you are ambitious and only moderately intelligent, this book - yes- is for you. And if you are intelligent and even only slightly ambitious, this book is still for you. While it would probably help to be younger rather than older, as in under 70, no matter your age if you are determined, you should read the book.

The author is intriguing with little blurbs that are easily read and understood. And the book is really two parts: the book itself and a handbook that is helpful and also thought provoking.

[Barred Owl Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! The graphics and style is so compelling it walks you through the book in no time and what a great read with valuable data points on both current and future trending!

Filled with insightful information about the trends that will define and change our social, economic and environmental future. The stories connect with the challenges an entrepreneur will face particularly in these challenging times. Jeremy provides not only insight about future trends but is also able to remind you that the best opportunities are in the fringes. Read, digest and create the future you desire. This book is a great tool to get a look behind the curtain of future trends.

From the book description:
In our era of chaos and disruption, there are so many great opportunities within your grasp; however, most smart and successful people miss out. It's too easy to retreat from disorder and clink to the past. Ultimately, your potential is limited by the seven traps of path dependency, which cause you to repeat past decisions. These traps can limit you from seeing the potential of what could be. If you could overcome these traps, what could you accomplish? How much more successful could you be?

Moreover, times of chaos cause people to retreat. But many of the most iconic brands in the world were actually founded during periods of recession, including: Apple, CNN, Uber, HP, Disney, Microsoft, Pinterest, Square, Fortune Magazine and dozens more. Chaos creates opportunity, always, if you know where to look.

Create the Future teaches you how to think disruptively, providing specific steps to create real innovation and change. This book combines Jeremy's high energy, provocative thinking with tactics that have been battle-tested through thousands of his team's projects advising leading innovators like Disney, Starbucks, Amex, IBM, Adidas, Google, and NASA.

On top of all that, this is a double-sided book, paired with The Innovation Handbook, a revised edition of Jeremy's award-winning book, Exploiting Chaos.

.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is great to get oneself their in the box way of thinking.

[Eshita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pretty excited about this book, and I did enjoy it. There was a fair amount on content that was laid out in a clear and rather pretty manner. I found it useful in terms of my own thinking and innovation but this book is geared more towards managers and team leaders, which I am not. That said, I did skip over most of the workshops. It's very possible I missed out on the strongest portion of the book but the non-workshop content was just as engaging. Quick, easy read with some information that I intend to take with me along my career and even personal goals.

[B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a copy of this one in a Goodreads giveaway. I knew it wouldn't be a book for me when - before the foreward, no less, the author indicates that people don't read for information anymore, and that your best bet would be to watch his videos or just skim the page headings. Lots of graphics, not a lot of content, and the content that is there certainly isn't new by any stretch of the imagination. You can find the same ideas in late 90s, early 00s literature. The highlight of the book was the tiny human holding a dinosaur. *shrugs* Not my cuppa.

[Anya Zhang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from a Greenleaf Book Group Goodreads Giveaway, so thank you guys for this amazing read! First off, I'm not really into business or into these types of books, but this book was still extremely helpful and very inspiring. I like the formatting of the book and how it was new and different, which also goes with the overall idea of the book. I honestly enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would, and I got two books in one, so cheers to that! The writing in this book is absolutely marvelous, and the humor makes me laugh. Honestly, there's not that much that I don't like about this book, only that I wish that there was more specific product examples. I mean, there were a lot of company references and stories, but there weren't that many specific product examples except for the hotels section. The layout and format of the book was aesthetically pleasing, but the language didn't really draw me in. I mean, the stories and examples were fun and engaging, it's just the overall language wasn't very descriptive or vivid. If it was, I feel like the book would've had more of an impact. But other than that, it was a great read!

[The Borrowed Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ Pretty awesome

Not my typical read, but I am very glad I received a copy of it. It is a very interesting book, left me with a lot of questions, or really left me thinking more. I really enjoyed all the visuals, and using that as a way to teach. Visuals for me are the best way of learning and getting the mind to think. Also, lots of diagrams, and let me tell you, I am so here for the diagrams.

I will say there is A LOT of knowledge, tips, and innovative thoughts to digest. Don't mistaken that for confusing material, it's not. This book is very well thought out and organized in a very particular way for the readers understanding, but its a lot of information to take in. My copy was stolen by my brother because he seemed to be captivating by the knowledge filled in this book as well. So when that comes back to me, I will most likely read it again.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremy Gutsche has packed wisdom into this guide to "Create the Future." After all, with the pace of change and issues facing humanity, shouldn't we all contribute to a better future? Gutsche is compelling as he shares personal inspiration from his father's entrepreneurial roots, to the 7 Paths to Trap Dependency.

I loved the innovative design of the book. Finish "Create the Future" then flip to "The Innovation Handbook." The duo serve up inspiring examples, workshop ideas, and a stellar foreword from Malcolm Gladwell. Malcolm calls the book "one of Gutsche's most ambitious projects to date."

Don't hesitate to pick up this up - it's smart, inspiring and (no small feat) a JOY to read.

[Courtney Riedel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and easy read. I started this book right around the start of the COVID crisis is the US and throughout the book, as the author noted chaos creates change, I kept wondering about all the changes and innovation that will come from this year. I was smiling as I read the end of the handbook side as Gutsche spoke about The Renaissance being born from the black plague.

As a person who does not feel particularly creative, the tips for sparking creativity and innovation are helpful. I appreciate all the resources mentioned in this book.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeremy Gutsche's twin books of Create the Future + The Innovation Handbook appears very adroit, but no so innovative. I think he refers to Peter Drucker numerous times, while the business community has listened to his wisdom for over 50 years. So Gutsche offers some sound advice in a disjointed manner. I found the many graphics annoying and disruptive. Overall I found this to be old wine in a very colorful new bottle.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. It is a good book filled with many ideas and tools to foster innovation. It is a quick read with insightful consideration of why innovation is often difficult to implement. It offers solutions to the most common problems faced when trying to create an environment encouraging out of the box thinking. The design and layout of the book aided in illustrating points and allowed me to pair an image with the ideas presented.

[Darren Keener · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as a winner of the Goodreads giveaway, so thank you to those who made that possible. It was an easy read, very accessible and down to earth. A lot of innovation books are cheesy, high-level, very unrealistic... Not so here. I really enjoyed the read, it sparked a lot of thinking and ideas that will help push me and my team when we need it most. I'm going to recommend to my team and refer back to this often for inspiration and tactics. I'm a fan and highly recommend.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy via Goodreads giveaway!

This was a refreshing source of inspiration to read, especially at the moment what with being in quarantine. It can be difficult to feel creative and innovative given the circumstances. This was a fun double-sided book to encourage ideation and the creative process. Would recommend for those that want to launch a business/product/idea and are struggling with having those ideas come to fruition.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Create the Future: Tactics for Innovative Thinking by Jeremy Gutsche is an inspiring, visual read that hits refresh to move beyond ruts and clichés. Gutsche energizes tried and true thinking going back to the 80s Peter Drucker and continues with forward thinking implementing a flip side Innovation Handbook. While not a game changer, Create the Future reminds one to be a creative thinker in finding spots to innovate within the edges of a work environment. #GoodreadsGiveaway

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as a first reads giveaway. I am not a business person, and while this double book is geared more towards business, I still found bits of useful. I plan on using some of the information presented and applying to my role as a school librarian to help boost my collaboration efforts with teachers, and to try and raise our circulation stats. Overall, I think any field can find useful pieces of information that can be applied over a wide range of jobs.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Create the Future... thoroughly detailed guide to help struggling businesses succeed with forward thinking and strategic shifts in business innovation. I see Managers, Entrepreneurs, and Small Business Owners benefiting most from the knowledge and tips to growing a company and tilting the investment strategy to a more creative approach. Abstract resourcefulness, out-of-the-box thinking.

[L E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for my free copy of this book. First off, this book is very well constructed. It is visually stimulating and engaging in a way that most business books aren't. The content is very well thought out and gives achievable steps for increasing innovation. I enjoyed reading it as well as coming up with some fun ideas along the way and running them through his process.

[Sara Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via Goodreads giveaway. I thoroughly enjoyed the practical, inspirational, and fresh perspective. The content was peppered throughout with tangible examples to bring the content back to the real life scenarios and application. I'm amped to incorporate disruptive thinking!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very interesting.
Has some good business venture stories and tips on how to succeed.
I love the one about the shoe company trying to figure out how to sell shoes to surfers but somehow could never figure out why the surfers would not buy.
Go figure...
Yeah I know...they wear shoes after they are finished surfing. ha ha
Good book.

[Mikaylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was right up my alley. It’s insightful & I took my time with it to soak up the information. I found it while looking for inspiration, & I decided to take a chance & purchase it, I wasn’t disappointed. It got me thinking of new ideas while reading, & gave me a different perspective to solving creative problems. This is definitely an instant favorite for me!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A combination of facts, insights, and advice, but it didn't draw me in as well as other books about disruptive thinking. It felt like a kitchen sink of established ideas loosely drawn together into a "framework". Think broadly, do it intentionally, and do it with an open mind.

[Librarian Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I entered into a giveaway to receive this book; I did so for my husband who aspires to have his own business someday. He was happy with it. He loved how innovative it was in terms of the book design and feels that the information can help him when he does create his own business.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really made me think about what it takes to think outside the box. It digs into helpful thought-provoking ideas, not just lists. I am taking it to our Division library at work to cultivate the ideas. Recommended!!!

[Gabriella P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely interesting and insightful read! It exhibits forward thinking, and really shows what businesses and companies, big or small, will need to do to become or stay successful in the future and the challenges they will face.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Really interesting ideas for thinking outside the box, in regard to new businesses and tweeking existing businesses. Perfect for the current chaotic time we are living in with the Pandemic.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish. The notes in the front of the book indicated that nobody reads and to skim the headlines and go watch the video online, so I was turned off immediately and found myself picking it up less and with less enthusiasm each time.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone who wants to think differently than the mass. Filled with great and useful tips in order to think and act differently. If you want to innovate and take your business to a new level, then it's a must read.

[Susan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like to think out of the box this book is for you.

[WiseB · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical consultant piece targeting companies or innovation related professionals who need some kind of pointers or consulting advices.