My Best New Ideas Come From Very Old Books

Reading new books generates the most ideas, but my best new ideas come from very old books. And the reason is simple: rare and antiquarian books stand the test of time – generation after generation, people have found them useful. That means the gems you find in them are likely to be relevant for generations to come as well.

They’re easier to read

A friend asked me about my best new ideas, and I was curious to know where they come from. So I did some research. It turns out that my best ideas tend to come from very old books.

I’m a huge fan of Steven Johnson’s book Where Good Ideas Come From, which is about the history and future of innovation. In it, he explains how many of the most important inventions in the modern world are built upon ideas that came before them. He focuses on science, but you can apply these concepts to other industries as well.

He argues that the idea behind any great invention is usually not a sudden light bulb moment, but a slow hunch. He looks at the way people like Darwin, Tim Berners Lee, and Willis Carrier conceived their groundbreaking inventions. He found that they all had these common threads, which he identified as a series of beliefs and habits.

The first of these is that they all believed in the adjacent possible. The adjacent possible is the set of possibilities that can be created by combining some of the components in a given situation. In biology, for example, this includes things like DNA or molecules. Once you’ve got a combination that works, you can then add other elements to the mix and expand on it.

Another idea is that they all believe in the power of determination. Some of the most successful people in the world are people who’ve worked hard to overcome a lot of setbacks. This is a very useful lesson for the rest of us. It’s not just about finding your true creative strengths, it’s also about sticking with it when the going gets tough.

So the next time you hear about an amazing new invention or innovation, try to remember where it came from. It may surprise you, but many of the most important inventions in our lives have been made by people who struggled with their own challenges.

They’re more timeless

If you’re like most people, your house is probably overflowing with books that you no longer need or want. Some of them are damaged or outdated, and some are just a bit too old for their own good. But if you want to give your books some new life, there are plenty of creative ways to do so.

A great way to make an old book useful and interesting is by turning it into a decorative item. This could be something as simple as a wall hanging, or a more elaborate project like an old-fashioned desk, with a little imagination and some basic supplies.

Whether your old book is a children’s storybook or an adult novel, there are plenty of fun ways to upcycle it into something you can use again and again. Here are some of the best ideas:

1. A Folded Book Page Decoration – This is a super easy and inexpensive craft that you can do with just a few old book pages. It looks great on the mantle and would also make a cute Valentine’s Day gift!

2. A Folded Book Page Purse – This is another really cute project that would be fun to do with your old books. You can even fill it with some small treats or gifts for a special occasion!

3. A Folded Book Page Heart – This is another very simple and inexpensive way to turn your old book pages into a fun and creative decorative piece. You can even add a ribbon or some other embellishment for added flair!

4. A Folded Book Page Desk – This is a really neat idea for a bookish desk. This one can be made using only a few old books, and it would look really cool with some nice decorations on the top.

5. A Folded Book Page Chandelier – This is a really beautiful and unique idea for a home decor. You can make this with just a few old books, or you can get even more creative and upcycle your book pages to make something more intricate.

They’re more relevant

Despite my fondness for oldies and my frequent visits to antiquarian bookshops, I have never found myself toting an ancient copy of Jane Eyre around. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the efforts of those who devote their lives to preserving literary memorabilia from times past.

One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is re-read a handful of old favorites, from classics like Shakespeare’s plays and Charlotte Bronte’s works of fiction to lesser-known gems from the early twentieth century. It’s a great way to pass the time and discover a new side of your literary self you might not have otherwise known existed.

I have also been known to spout off the most interesting oldies from my collection on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn as well as in my monthly newsletters. So it’s safe to say my best new ideas come from very old books, and my brain has some of the best stuff to pore over for years to come.