Book review
AN IDEAL BOOK FOR ALL
The Idea Book
Author: Fredrik Haren
I was rather apprehensive about the contents of this book purely
because of the title, as it gave the impression of a book with many
suggestions of little practical value. Yet, the lack of frivolity in the
cover design and the very subtle silver letters on black for a cover
evoked my enthusiasm beyond just curiosity.
The Foreword did the trick, it simply convinced me that the book must
be read in detail and in detail I did as page after page provided
unbelievable insights in to life, culture, people, behaviour, management
and a host of other areas.
The author, Frederik Haren, apparently a well known writer in
Scandinavia but a little known entity here, has been able to extract the
reader’s absorptive interest page to page. He draws on ancient history,
arts, theatre and culture as much as he competently draws on
contemporary management, corporate philosophy, inventions, etc.
I’ve heard he is an excellent speaker and given by the style of his
writing I am inclined to believe it must be so. If he has been able to
write in this manner to keep one absorbed in the book, I am sure he must
be tremendously skilled to deliver a talk with varied voice control and
body action.
At first glance I did not believe that there will be so many
management insights in this book. The abundance of these intermixed with
family life, people management and the comprehensive coverage of
inspiration, innovation, motivation, loyalty, etc. make this book a
truly valuable asset to the young and the old in every sphere of life.
If I reflect on my life’s multiple roles and experience as an
employee, a manager, a parent, a teacher or an employer; I will begin to
realise that this book has catered to each role I have been in. This
too, explained through very valuable real life examples, narrated
experiences and authoritative statements.
Fredrik has drawn on many examples from international history.
Einstein to Jobbs he brings to life for the reader their thinking, their
curiosity, their enthusiasm, their desire, evoking that interest in the
content. I was particularly absorbed in the following quotes from the
book.
Under the curious creature of habit he goes on to explain the human
being’s desire to repeat, keep a habit. This avoids a newer thinking
process taking root. “The idea is not necessarily to find a new solution
to everyday tasks, but to help identify all the things in life that we
do out of pure habit” the book states.
In Think again he articulates the need to keep evolving ideas
continuously. He encourages the proliferation of ideas to come out with
one that is a winner. “It may seem depressing to come up with masses of
ideas that are too bad to use, but if you want to come up with that one
really good idea, then you have to have the courage to think of lots of
bad ideas too” states Fredrik.
Ideamations is a word coined by the writer which has a deep meaning
and a meaning that embodies many of our failures. It is the king of a
apathy, the queen of complacency and the one that makes us renowned ME
TOO thinkers!
Knowing that you do not know anything is interesting reading as it
just provides us the thought that there are always millions of things we
do not know. Quoting Bertrand Russel, he writes “The trouble with the
world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of
doubt.” How apt is this statement still.
This is not only a book for reading and absorbing, but it is also
given in the style of a work book with blank pages after every episode/
statement. This practical approach by the writer enables the reader to
jot down thoughts, any consonance or dissonance with the writings and
even go to the extent of writing in a visionary manner on how that what
has been printed becomes relevant to the actual reader. This blank
paging in the book is an excellent idea, the writer living up to his
writings.
As a student I was highly taken up by Theodore Levitts book on
Innovation as it was one of the pioneering books on a subject so close
to marketers in the US. This book is in the same lines a pioneering
effort by the author and one which will be of academic as well as
commercial value.
The book copiously revolves around innovation, creativity, thinking
differently, which is what makes the book so absorbing and valuable. It
will be absorbing to the young and old and valuable to them too.
However, the value of this book for managers, particularly those who
carry proper corporate responsibilities, will be invaluable. I think
management lectures should make this a compulsory reading material for
their students, not purely for its academic value-which is there in
abundance, but also its very practical insights value. This makes the
book different to many others on similar subjects.
Many debates will continue to identify whether Creativity is more
important than Innovation or whether Inspiration is the life blood of
Loyalty. These debates and arguments will be healthy for the generation
of the thought process and the culmination of best practices.
Yet, the value of all these will be seen through the performance of
individuals, individuals who will be different, who will leave no stone
unturned, who will share and absorb knowledge, who will enthuse others
and finally who will be passionate about what they do.
Fredrik Haren is undoubtedly such an individual. He has gathered
inspiration from a number of people (whom he acknowledge in the book),
used his innovative thinking and creative ability to deliver a book that
one cannot resist reading. After reading it once, I am simply motivated
to read it again. It is not just an Idea Book but, in my opinion an
Ideal Book, for all.
Eardley Perera
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