The Shortest History of Innovation

Name: The Shortest History of Innovation
Brand: Black Inc
Price: 27.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder

By: Andrew Leigh

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Paperback | 17 February 2026

At a Glance

Format
Paperback

Dimensions(cm)
19.7 x 13.0 x 2.0

Paperback

$27.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $7.00 with

Available: 17th February 2026

Preorder. Will ship when available.

From the wheel to gene editing, new ideas shape our world.

In this dazzling, surprising and always entertaining book, bestselling author Andrew Leigh tells the story of innovation.

Innovation shapes almost every corner of our lives, yet we rarely pause to notice it. Someone had to invent nails and wheelbarrows; alphabets and books; glass windows and windscreen wipers; tin cans and synthetic dyes. From tools and technologies to fresh approaches in art and architecture, innovation surrounds us.

Leigh shows that three forces drive innovation: tinkering, teams and trade. He examines hotbeds of creativity, the forces that suppress them, and the surprising ways ideas travel across borders and disciplines. The result is a lively, compact look at the engines powering progress.

A brilliant follow-up to the international bestseller The Shortest History of Economics.

About the Author

Andrew Leigh is a member of the Australian Parliament. He holds a PhD from Harvard University, and is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. Before being elected in 2010, he was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. His books include The Shortest History of Economics, The Luck of Politics, Battlers and Billionaires and Randomistas.

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