Innovation for Underdogs: How to Make the Leap from What If to Now What [Hardcover]

David Pensak (Author), Elizabeth Licorish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

"Some may think this book is really `Innovation for Dummies,' but it is not. Dummies learn by rote. Innovation requires much more, which for me, the starting points are a lively curiosity and a real yen to solve problems. With these you will have a flow of ideas and turning those ideas into innovations is what the book is all about. The writing is simple, straightforward and humorous, no need for Maxwell's equations. Enjoy while learning!"
--John D. Roberts, California Institute of Technology

"Innovation for Underdogs is truly innovative! As a reader, I feel inspired to slow down to view and enjoy the world a quarter turn differently. One of the reasons this book connected so well with me is because you break down HOW to think creatively, and do it with such personal warmth and encouragement.
--Kathy Craven, Pilot School , Wilmington Delaware

Have you ever wanted to change your life? Make it easier or, at least, get rid of the tough stuff? Have you ever simply asked yourself, "What if?" Anyone who wants a void filled, a problem solved, or a question answered, can learn to innovate. And it doesn't matter how much education you have or how high you sit on the corporate ladder. If you think that learning innovation means reading boring instructional manuals and paying a fortune for classes, you're wrong.

Innovation for Underdogs explains how innovation is a practical process, not some miraculous insight. Everyone can innovate! This book is a witty, intelligent, and humorous entry into the mind of one of the world's greatest innovators, Dr. David Pensak. Creator of the first Internet firewall, Dr. Pensak has amassed a huge wealth of innovation inspiration through his own critical work. But he's discovered some of the greatest truths about innovation through his experiences with others--his childhood lessons from Einstein, his work as a university professor, and his highly esteemed innovation lectures throughout the world.

This book shows the underdog (that would be you) how to dig to the root of your greatest problems and surface with solutions to make life a lot easier (and more lucrative!). Using entertaining, energetic, and enlightening stories from Dr. Pensak's experience, This book makes it clear that the underdog is bred for creativity. Within these pages, you will learn how to clearly define and solve a problem and how to market the solution. Filled to the brim with advice, examples, and exclusive interviews, Innovation for Underdogs is the creative person's best friend.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. David Pensak is one of the country's most prolific and successful innovators. A critical force in research at the E. I. Dupont de Nemours, Inc. for 30 years, Dr. Pensak also founded Raptor Systems, the computer security company that developed and brought to market the first commercially successful Internet firewall. He has 38 patents and applications being prepared in fields ranging from agricultural chemistry to solid state physics and business-process modeling. Dr. Pensak is highly esteemed both domestically and internationally. He has taught at the world's most prestigious universities and lectured at its most powerful corporations. Currently speaking globally and launching his International Innovation Center, Dr. Pensak has teamed up with coauthor Elizabeth Licorish to write this book.

See the U.S. State Department's 3 part series on author David Pensak on their website America.gov

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Career Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601630352
• ISBN-13: 978-1601630353
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,758,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Informative Read From Inventor of the Firewall, December 29, 2008

By 

James "Howell" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Innovation for Underdogs: How to Make the Leap from What If to Now What (Hardcover)

This is a fascinating book -- truly informative and fun to read. It is one that brings to life real-world examples that illuminate how something is transformed from an idea into a reality in the marketplace. More importantly, Pensak has the credentials to back him up -- as the inventor of the firewall which was the world's most important invention to transform computer security, he was also the Chief Scientist at Dupont for many years, and has taught at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Never boring and always interesting - readers begin to understand how innovation begins with the smallest ideas (ie; making drugs that only need to be taken once a day versus 5 times) to something as large as making an international conglomerate compete effectively in today's global marketplace. The book expounds on everything innovation-related: from processes to products, from near-catastrophe to capital. A nice plus that is different from other books on innovation, Pensak gives hope to the entrepreneur and inventor -- teaching them "how to think" about innovation and how to make peace with the dozens of ideas many have at once, in order to get one to marketplace successfully. He chronicles what can go wrong and how to avoid it, and ends one of the last few chapters with one of the most pressing issues of our time, global warming and clean energy. Included is an insightful chapter on financing the venture, as well as historical perspective on the world's earliest innovators. An insightful read and page-turner.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ENERGIZING!, January 6, 2009

By 

E.D. "E.D." (Wilmington, De United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Innovation for Underdogs: How to Make the Leap from What If to Now What (Hardcover)

Truly a book that will help you recognize your own creative energy and how to capitalize on innovative ideas!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking at the world in a new way., January 8, 2009

By 

P. Olscamp (CINCINNATI, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Innovation for Underdogs: How to Make the Leap from What If to Now What (Hardcover)

Dr. Pensak writes about how he started and continues to innovate new ideas everyday. Everyone can look around at what is needed then create new ways to solve the problems with what is already here. Dr. Pensak helps you understand the process and how you too can be an innovator.