Where Good Ideas Come From

Johnson utilizes the concept of “the adjacent possible,” borrowed from Stuart Kauffman, to refer to the set of potential innovations or ideas that are within reach at any given moment, based on existing components and knowledge. It represents the frontier of possibility that can be explored from the current state of things. The adjacent possible expands as discoveries or innovations are made, opening up new avenues for further exploration and combination. Johnson uses this concept to explain how innovation often occurs through the recombination of existing elements rather than through entirely novel creations.

Johnson uses “chaos mode” to describe a state of neural activity in the brain characterized by disorganized, non-synchronized firing of neurons. This state is contrasted with more orderly, synchronized neural activity. Johnson argues that these periods of neural chaos are crucial for creativity and problem-solving, as they allow the brain to explore new connections and assimilate new information. The author suggests that chaos mode is a kind of “background dreaming” that facilitates innovative thinking by enabling unexpected associations between ideas.

Commonplacing, or using a commonplace book, was a historical practice of maintaining a personal collection of knowledge, quotes, and ideas. In Where Good Ideas Come From, Johnson describes it as a tool used by scholars and intellectuals from the 16th and 18th centuries to record and organize information, facilitating the cultivation and connection of ideas over time. Johnson presents commonplace books as an early example of a system that supported the development of slow hunches.

Darwin’s Paradox refers to the unexpectedly high biodiversity found in coral reef ecosystems despite their location in nutrient-poor waters, which Darwin observed during his voyage on the Beagle. This phenomenon contrasts sharply with the relative scarcity of life on nearby islands, prompting Darwin to ponder why such diverse life forms could thrive in seemingly inhospitable conditions.

In the context of Where Good Ideas Come From, “distant reading” is an analytical approach Johnson borrows from literary historian Franco Moretti. It involves examining large-scale patterns across many innovations or ideas, rather than focusing on individual case studies. Johnson applies this concept to the history of innovation, analyzing about 200 major breakthroughs over 600 years. By “reading” the history of innovation from a distance, Johnson identifies broader trends and patterns in how ideas emerge and evolve across different time periods and environments. This approach allows him to draw conclusions about the most fertile conditions for innovation, challenging conventional wisdom about the dominance of market-driven individual breakthroughs and highlighting the importance of networked, open environments in fostering transformative ideas.

In Where Good Ideas Come From, Johnson uses the term “ecosystem engineers” to describe organisms or entities that create or significantly modify their environments, thereby creating opportunities for other species or innovations. Johnson borrows this concept from ecology and applies it to the realm of ideas and innovation. In the book, ecosystem engineers are presented as creators of platforms or environments that enable further innovation. Examples include coral polyps that build reefs, beavers that create wetlands, and in the human realm, technologies or systems that provide foundations for further developments.

Johnson utilizes “exaptation” to describe the process by which a trait or technology originally developed for one purpose is repurposed or co-opted for a different function. Borrowed from evolutionary biology, exaptation in the context of innovation refers to the adaptation of existing ideas, tools, or technologies to solve new problems or serve new functions. Johnson presents exaptation as a key driver of innovation, emphasizing how breakthroughs often come from repurposing or recombining existing elements in novel ways rather than creating entirely new inventions from scratch.

Johnson uses the term “fourth quadrant” to describe one of four categories in his innovation framework. The fourth quadrant represents non-market, networked environments where ideas are developed collaboratively and shared openly. This quadrant, which includes academic research and open-source projects, is presented as a particularly fertile ground for transformative innovations.

“Information spillover” refers to the unintended spread of knowledge or ideas from one person, project, or domain to another within a networked environment. Johnson sees this as a crucial factor in innovation, where insights from one field can unexpectedly contribute to breakthroughs in another. In the book, information spillover is portrayed as a positive consequence of dense, interconnected environments that facilitate the free flow of ideas.

Kleiber’s Law is a mathematical principle discovered by Max Kleiber that describes the relationship between an organism’s size and its metabolic rate, following a negative quarter-power scaling across a wide range of species. This law applies to organisms from rats to elephants and has been extended to plant metabolism, demonstrating a consistent pattern in how living things process energy.

In the context of the book, a “liquid network” refers to an environment or system where ideas can flow freely and connect with other ideas. It's a space that balances order and chaos, allowing for serendipitous encounters and the cross-pollination of concepts from different fields. Liquid networks facilitate the exchange of information and the formation of new connections, making them ideal for innovation.

“Long zoom” is Johnson’s term for a perspective that examines innovation patterns across multiple scales, from cellular to global, to identify common characteristics in diverse innovative environments. This approach allows for the recognition of recurring patterns of creativity and innovation across different domains, from biological systems to human-made structures and networks.

“The multiple” in Where Good Ideas Come From refers to the phenomenon of simultaneous or near-simultaneous independent discoveries or inventions by different individuals or groups. Johnson discusses this concept to illustrate how innovations often emerge when the necessary components and knowledge become available within the adjacent possible. He provides numerous historical examples of multiple discovery, such as the independent isolation of oxygen by different scientists or the concurrent development of calculus by Newton and Leibniz. The existence of multiples supports Johnson’s argument that innovations are more often the result of the recombination of available ideas and technologies rather than isolated strokes of individual genius.

“Negative quarter-power scaling” describes the relationship found in Kleiber’s Law, where metabolic rates increase more slowly than body mass, resulting in larger organisms having proportionally slower metabolisms than smaller ones. This principle explains why, for example, an elephant’s heart beats much slower than a mouse’s, despite the vast difference in size

Johnson introduces “phase-locking” as a phenomenon in brain activity where large clusters of neurons fire at the same frequency in a synchronized manner. This represents a more organized state of neural activity compared to chaos mode. While phase-locking is important for executing established plans or habits, Johnson argues that the brain requires a balance between these orderly states and more chaotic ones to foster creativity and innovation. The concept is used to illustrate how the brain alternates between structured and unstructured thinking processes.

“Positive quarter-power scaling,” in the context of the book, refers to the phenomenon observed in cities where innovation increases at a greater rate than population growth, resulting in larger cities being disproportionately more innovative. This concept, derived from Jeffrey West’s research, suggests that urban environments have unique properties that accelerate the generation and adoption of new ideas.

In the context of Where Good Ideas Come From, “serendipity” refers to the occurrence of fortunate discoveries made by accident. Johnson emphasizes that true serendipity is more than just random chance: It involves making meaningful connections between ideas or observations that were not intentionally sought. The author presents serendipity as a crucial factor in innovation and scientific discovery, arguing that it often results from diverse inputs and open, connected environments. Johnson explores how serendipitous discoveries can be fostered through certain practices and environments, both in individual thinking and organizational settings.

The “slow hunch” refers to ideas that develop gradually over an extended period, often years or decades. Unlike sudden “eureka” moments, slow hunches evolve incrementally, gathering strength and clarity as they connect with other ideas and information. Johnson argues that most significant innovations are the result of slow hunches rather than sudden inspirations.

“Slow multitasking” refers to the practice of working on multiple projects or ideas over extended periods, allowing for cross-pollination of thoughts and insights. Unlike rapid task-switching, slow multitasking involves moving between different projects or fields of study over days, weeks, or even years. Johnson argues that this approach fosters innovation by allowing ideas from one area to influence and inform work in another, creating opportunities for unexpected connections and insights. He presents slow multitasking as a characteristic of many highly creative and innovative individuals, suggesting that it promotes a more holistic and interconnected approach to problem-solving and idea generation.