The Innovation Show

Today we focus on ACT II of Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think: How Humans Learned to See the Future and Shape It with Byron Reese

Act II is set In 17th century France, the mathematical framework known as 'probability theory' is born—a science for seeing into the future that we used to build the modern world.

We welcome back the author of "Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think: How Humans Learned to See the Future--and Shape It" friend of the show, Byron Reese. Find Byron here: www.byronreese.com

In Part I of "The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World" Iain McGilchrist addresses the means to truth, in the sense of the faculties with which we are endowed for this task. He takes these to be: attention, perception, judgment, apprehension, emotional and social intelligence, cognitive intelligence and creativity. In each case, he looks at what either hemisphere contributes to the process.

We don't stand a hope of diving into each but I felt we should share some of your writing on attention and Perception before we focus today on some of the more philosophical chapters such as intuition.

We touched on it on the last day, but for those who know your work! We will know how we attend to the work is of utmost importance to what and how we experience the world?

"Attention changes the world. How you attend to it changes what it is you find there.

What you find then governs the kind of attention you will think it appropriate to pay in the future.

And so it is that the world you recognise (which will not be exactly the same as my world) is 'firmed up' – and brought into being.

This raises a core question then, What is attention?

Look around. Clearly, we humans are radically different from the other creatures on this planet. But why? Where are the Bronze Age beavers? The Iron Age iguanas? In today's episode, our guest argues that we humans owe our special status to our ability to imagine the future and recall the past, escaping the perpetual present that all other living creatures are trapped in. Envisioning human history as the development of a societal superorganism he names Agora, our guest shows us how this escape enabled us to share knowledge on an unprecedented scale, and predict—and eventually master—the future.

He unravels our history as an intelligent species in three acts:

Act I: Ancient humans undergo "the awakening," developing the cognitive ability to mentally time-travel using language

Act II: In 17th century France, the mathematical framework known as 'probability theory' is born—a science for seeing into the future that we used to build the modern world

Act III: Beginning with the invention of the computer chip, humanity creates machines to gaze into the future with even more precision, overcoming the limits of our brains

We welcome back the author of "Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think: How Humans Learned to See the Future--and Shape It" friend of the show, Byron Reese.

Find Byron here: www.byronreese.com

Part 2 of this extended episode with Eric Maisel

Imagine solving problems and increasing creativity while you sleep. Grounded in current brain research, today's book introduces a simple but revolutionary program that shows how to do just that by learning to tune into your deepest intuitions.

Case studies illustrate the effects of sleep thinking on ordinary individuals, from a failing college student to an engineer with anger management issues. This tool for idea generation and life-purpose clarification offers answers that lead to actions and result in positive changes, all by getting clear on the real nature of a problem and learning to listen for the answers.

We welcome back for part 2 the author "The Magic of Sleep Thinking: How to Solve Problems, Reduce Stress, and Increase Creativity While You Sleep", Eric Maisel

More about Eric: https://ericmaisel.com

Imagine solving problems and increasing creativity while you sleep. Grounded in current brain research, today's book introduces a simple but revolutionary program that shows how to do just that by learning to tune into your deepest intuitions. Case studies illustrate the effects of sleep thinking on ordinary individuals, from a failing college student to an engineer with anger management issues. This tool for idea generation and life-purpose clarification offers answers that lead to actions and result in positive changes, all by getting clear on the real nature of a problem and learning to listen for the answers.

We welcome the author of a multitude of titles but the focus of today's episode is, The Magic of Sleep Thinking: How to Solve Problems, Reduce Stress, and Increase Creativity While You Sleep, Eric Maisel

More about Eric: https://ericmaisel.com

In this landmark new book, our guest addresses some of the oldest and hardest questions humanity faces – ones that have a practical urgency for all of us today.

Who are we?

What is the world?

How can we understand consciousness, matter, space and time?

Is the cosmos without purpose or value?

Can we really neglect the sacred and divine?

In doing so, he argues that we have become enslaved to an account of things dominated by the brain's left hemisphere, one that blinds us to an awe-inspiring reality that is all around us, had we but eyes to see it. He suggests that in order to understand ourselves and the world we need science and intuition, reason and imagination, not just one or two; that they are in any case far from being in conflict; and that the brain's right hemisphere plays the most important part in each. And he shows us how to recognise the 'signature' of the left hemisphere in our thinking, so as to avoid making decisions that bring disaster in their wake. Following the paths of cutting-edge neurology, philosophy and physics, he reveals how each leads us to a similar vision of the world, one that is both profound and beautiful – and happens to be in line with the deepest traditions of human wisdom. It is a vision that returns the world to life, and us to a better way of living in it: one we must embrace if we are to survive.

He is one of my favourite writers and his previous appearance on the show remains one of my favourites and each time I listen to I learn something new, he is back to introduce his latest book, which I consider an oeuvre as in the French word for a body of work and this is a magnificent oeuvre.

It is a pleasure to welcome the author of "The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World" Iain McGilchrist, you are very welcome.

More about Iain: http://channelmcgilchrist.com

The premise of today's book is that nurturing spontaneity, creativity , experimentation, and dynamic synchronization is no longer an optional approach to leadership. It's the only approach. The current velocity of change demands nothing less. It demands paying attention to the mental models, the cultural beliefs and values, the practices and structures that support improvisation. We welcome back the author of: "Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz", Frank Barrett.

More about Frank: http://yestothemess.org

Today's guest has four questions for us…. First, do you truly believe that all men and women are created equal, and do you accept others and welcome them into your society simply because they possess flesh and blood even if their values differ from your own? Second, without bias or discrimination, do you encourage others to learn and grow, and do you support them in that process even when they lack confidence or make mistakes? Third, do you grant others maximum autonomy to contribute in their own way as they demonstrate their ability to deliver results? Fourth, do you consistently invite others to challenge the status quo in order to make things better, and are you personally prepared to be wrong based on the humility and learning mindset you have developed? In large measure, the way you answer these questions will define the way you value human beings and your relationships with them. It will define the way you draw people out or shut them down, create confidence or induce fear, encourage or discourage. It will determine how you lead and influence others and yourself?

We welcome back for part 2 the author of "The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety: Defining the Path to Inclusion and Innovation" Timothy Clark More about Tim: https://www.leaderfactor.com/team

Today's guest has four questions for us….

First, do you truly believe that all men and women are created equal, and do you accept others and welcome them into your society simply because they possess flesh and blood even if their values differ from your own?

Second, without bias or discrimination, do you encourage others to learn and grow, and do you support them in that process even when they lack confidence or make mistakes?

Third, do you grant others maximum autonomy to contribute in their own way as they demonstrate their ability to deliver results?

Fourth, do you consistently invite others to challenge the status quo in order to make things better, and are you personally prepared to be wrong based on the humility and learning mindset you have developed?

In large measure, the way you answer these questions will define the way you value human beings and your relationships with them. It will define the way you draw people out or shut them down, create confidence or induce fear, encourage or discourage.

It will determine how you lead and influence others and yourself?

We welcome the author of "The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety: Defining the Path to Inclusion and Innovation" Timothy Clark

More about Tim: https://www.leaderfactor.com/team

Today's book is designed to bring you simple, sound, and practical tools to awaken your creativity at work—even if you don't think you are creative. Not fluff or theories. No bull or fillers. Our guest draws on a lifetime of success in business to give you real actionable tools that you can use to become more creative. And each chapter brims with businesslike action items on how to make creativity happen at work. Meant to be used as a manual which you can draw upon at the office, in business, or in your career, this book is all about teaching you how to awaken your long-lost creativity in order to see the world as it can be, not as it is.

We welcome the author of "The Creator Mindset: 92 Tools to Unlock the Secrets to Innovation, Growth, and Sustainability" Nir Bashan

Find Nir, well, here: https://www.nirbashan.com