Rethink: The Surprising History of New Ideas

This book by Poole (columnist, The Guardian; Unspeak) is an intelligent and topical breakdown of how new ideas are often not as new as we think. While it covers an ironically familiar topic, it does so in a clear and direct manner. The examples Poole uses range from technology to theory and philosophy. Each idea is presented fully and encapsulates a different sort of rediscovery, offering further evidence in favor of the thesis—future innovations are often the result of past lessons. Beyond being a convincing argument for studying the lessons of the past, it is also a pleasure to read. Each section is well presented, and the ideas are engaging. Readers will find that many ideas provoke reflection as concepts thought to be new and inspired are laid out more honestly. Some of the examples are so absurd as to be humorous if not for their factual nature. Poole's writing is playful enough that such a thorough deconstruction still retains enough whimsy to carry the weightiness of the topic.