Creating Innovators

Creating Innovators examines how parents, teachers, and mentors can nurture young people's capacity for innovation. Through case studies and interviews, Wagner profiles successful innovators and traces the factors that shaped their development. The book analyzes educational approaches and environments that foster innovative thinking, from elementary school through university level. Wagner presents specific teaching methods and learning experiences that develop creative problem-solving abilities. Wagner investigates the role of play, passion, and purpose in cultivating innovation skills. The text includes video content accessible via QR codes, featuring conversations with young innovators, their parents, and teachers. The work serves as both a critique of conventional education systems and a blueprint for developing the next generation of change-makers. Its core message centers on the need to transform how society prepares young people for an innovation-driven economy.

Readers view Creating Innovators as a solid examination of how parents and educators can foster innovation skills in young people. The book's case studies and interviews provide concrete examples that many found practical and actionable. Liked: - Detailed profiles of young innovators and their support systems - Emphasis on intrinsic motivation over rewards - QR codes linking to video content - Focus on both education and parenting strategies Disliked: - Repetitive examples and points - Limited focus on privileged/affluent subjects - Overly long case studies - QR codes now broken/outdated - More descriptive than prescriptive One reader noted: "The profiles are inspiring but skew heavily toward students from elite schools and well-resourced families." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (280+ ratings) Multiple readers mentioned the book validates play-based learning and risk-taking but wanted more specific guidance for implementing the ideas in average school settings.

Drive by Daniel H. Pink This book examines the core elements of human motivation and how educational and workplace environments can foster innovation and creative thinking.

The Innovator's DNA by Jeff Dyer The authors present research-based insights into five skills that distinguish innovative entrepreneurs and executives from ordinary managers.

A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger Through case studies and research, this book demonstrates how asking the right questions leads to breakthrough innovations in education, business, and personal growth.

Creative Schools by Ken Robinson, Lou Aronica This work presents a framework for transforming education systems to nurture creativity and innovation in students through practical, tested methods.

The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros The book connects innovation theory with educational practice through real-world examples of schools and educators who embrace change and foster creative thinking.

🎯 Tony Wagner spent over 150 hours interviewing young innovators, their parents, and their mentors to understand the environments that nurture innovation. 🎓 The book includes companion video materials accessible through QR codes, making it one of the first major educational books to integrate multimedia elements. 🌟 Several innovators profiled in the book started their groundbreaking projects while still in college, including Kirk Phelps who worked on the first iPhone's user interface at age 22. 🏫 Wagner identifies "play, passion, and purpose" as the three key elements that foster innovative thinking, challenging traditional educational approaches focused on standardized testing. 👥 The research revealed that many successful innovators had teachers who broke traditional rules and created unconventional learning experiences, often risking their jobs to do so.