“A groundbreaking book that spans industries and time.”
–Newsweek
“This book has everything: new ideas, bold insights, entertaining history and convincing analysis. Not to be missed by anyone who wants to understand how ideas change the world.”
–DANIEL KAHNEMAN, winner of the Nobel Prize in economics, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow
“A wonderful book that explores the beauty, quirkiness and complexity of ideas, Loonshots will both educate and entertain you. If you care about ideas—especially new and out-of-the-box ones—you need to read this book.”
–SIDDHARTHA MUKHERJEE, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, author of The Emperor of All Maladies
“The success of Loonshots is a case study in the power of story and humor. James Bond, Isaac Newton, Jane Austen, a world chess champion, and disappearing fish are all used to illustrate the behavior of organizations. Brilliant, funny, fascinating, and most importantly – useful – Loonshots should be read by any leader who wants to bring big ideas to life.”
–JENNIFER AAKER, General Atlantic Professor at Stanford University, author of Humor, Seriously
“Loonshots crystallizes crucial lessons about innovation and collaboration more exquisitely than any book I’ve read. Beyond that, it’s an absolute page-turner, packed with scintillating stories of world-changing ideas. ”
–DAVID EPSTEIN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Range and The Sports Gene
“Who knew that one idea could connect naval battles, chirping crickets, and the birth of modern science? If The Da Vinci Code and Freakonomics had a child together, it would be called Loonshots. This book is a must read for anyone in business, education, or public service.”
–SENATOR BOB KERREY, recipient of the Medal of Honor, former Navy SEAL
“Safi Bahcall proposes that phase-transition physics can illuminate human organizations … Anyone interested in a fresh approach to innovation—with lots of lively examples—should read this book.”
–ERIC MASKIN, winner of the Nobel Prize in economics
“Safi hits all the right notes: the rhythm is right, the humor is right, the scope is right … everything is right. Loonshots should be required reading for anyone serious about changing the world for the better.”
–ROBERT LAUGHLIN, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics
“Loonshots describes a new idea: a ‘phase transition’ in an organization — a sudden decline in the ability to innovate. I have seen this dynamic in action along with the damage it can cause. Bahcall offers new insights on why such declines happen and how to avoid them; those principles alone make Loonshots an essential read for leaders who wish to build a creative organization.
> But leaders should read Loonshots for more. High risk, unusual ideas never follow an expected path. Examining well-researched stories of transformative ideas, which Bahcall offers in Loonshots, is a humbling experience, or at least it should be. Those stories cause us to think, and I hope understand what it takes to support seemingly crazy ideas, not knowing where they will lead, but believing there is something worthy in their pursuit. The bedrock of the creative organization is humility.”
–ED CATMULL, Founder and CEO of Pixar, author of Creativity, Inc.
“A witty, invigorating exploration of human behaviour and discovery.”
–Nature
“An entertaining and informative read, Loonshots brilliantly explores one of the great challenges of leadership – balancing the intrinsic tension between idea generation and idea execution. Safi Bahcall exposes a dangerous culprit of stunted innovation: organizational structure. Loonshots offers readers a new paradigm for drawing innovation out of teams by providing tactics for turning both crazy good and good crazy ideas alike into reality.”
–Gen. (Ret.) STANLEY McCHRYSTAL, former Cmdr. of US Joint Special Operations Command, author of Team of Teams
“Riveting stories … Bahcall’s fresh ideas and practical solutions—an unusual combination of psychology and physics—should change the way any person or team sets out to change the world.”
–AMY C. EDMONDSON, author of The Fearless Organization and professor at Harvard Business School
“Safi Bahcall somehow has written a book that is original, smart, useful, and entertaining all at once … Bahcall’s marvelous and mischievous voice will keep you turning the pages.”
–ROBERT SUTTON, Professor at Stanford University, author of Scaling Up Excellence and The No Asshole Rule
“When leaders ask me, “How can we be more innovative in a time of crisis?” I give them a copy of Loonshots. Safi explains the things you can do to design innovation into your organization. And he tells you in a way that’s fun to read, using stories of some of humanity’s most important breakthroughs, with details as instructive as they are entertaining. ”
–KIM SCOTT, New York Times bestselling author of Radical Candor; formerly at Google, Apple; advisor to Dropbox, Twitter
“A work of genius … brilliantly conveys multiple lessons about problem solving, group dynamics, and the value of thought and reflection in an immensely entertaining way.”
–JOSEPH FULLER, Professor at Harvard Business School, co-founder of Monitor Group
“One of the hardest things to do in any creative undertaking is managing the tension between the promise of new inventions and the comfort of nurturing past successes. Loonshots provides some great examples of how individuals and organizations have successfully navigated this tension, and some very clear thinking about how to make this process less fraught for everyone. This book is a must read, and one that I recommend with high enthusiasm for my friends and colleagues.”
–KEVIN SCOTT, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft
“I inhaled Loonshots. In entertaining and witty prose it provides practical insights leaders can use to create organizations where good, crazy ideas thrive while existing businesses continue to flourish.”
–STEPHANIE COHEN, Chief Strategy Officer, Goldman Sachs
“Loonshots is a fantastic read for anyone who wants to unlock the power and potential of human creativity to make a positive impact on the world. So many great ideas never see the light of day. Through a mix of history, science and storytelling, Safi Bahcall delivers a wonderful journey for any leader who’s committed to nurturing innovation over the long term.”
–EVAN SPIEGEL, Founder and CEO of Snap, winner of Fast Company 2020 Most Innovative Company award
“Brilliant and wonderfully entertaining, an unstoppable read, full of surprises and rich with insight into how people create and nurture things that change the world. It’s also an important book. Bahcall, a physicist and biotech entrepreneur, is unfolding the secrets behind successes everywhere.”
–RICHARD PRESTON, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hot Zone and Crisis in the Red Zone
“Some books challenge what you think―Loonshots will challenge how you think. Never before have we been given such a clear and compelling roadmap to questioning norms, embracing the impossible, and shooting for the stars. Loonshots is a must read for anyone passionate or crazy enough to take on today’s biggest challenges.”
–EDWARD SULLIVAN, CEO, Velocity Group
“In this age of noise, constant disturbances and lack of deep thinking, Loonshots is a breath of fresh air. If you want to find and nurture radical ideas that can transform your business, read this incredible book.”
–VIKRANT BATRA, Chief Marketing Officer, HP Inc.
“Fantastic … I have enough inspiration/ideas to run through a brick wall. Few good books exist on organizational behavior, LOONSHOTS is an order of magnitude more valuable.”
–KELLY HOLLINGER, EVP Innovation, Vibra Healthcare
“Loonshots is the book we desperately need now. Today’s threats cannot be met by might alone. To defend our nation in an increasingly competitive world, we need to innovate faster and better than those who would do us harm. Bahcall offers a solution to the challenge of nurturing innovation without sacrificing core capabilities or operational edge. Brilliant, insightful, and immediately applicable.”
–DOUGLAS WICKERT, Colonel, US Air Force
“I read Loonshots and wept. I don’t usually weep over business books, but I am a gardener of human innovation. It is such a privilege to be seen. Reading Bahcall’s beautifully written and delightfully romantic book was like coming home.”
–JENNIFER KENNY, former CIO at Stanford Research Institute
“Loonshots changed my life. It gave me the inspiration and tools I needed to erase the limits I placed on myself. Read this book and your life may change too.”
–NICOLETTE TESSLER, Divisional VP, UHS
“Loonshots is the best thing you’ll read this year.”
– MORGAN HOUSEL, partner, Collaborative Fund; former columnist, Wall Street Journal
“Loonshots by Safi Bahcall is one of the best books of 2019 and possibly the decade.”
–ASHITA ACHUTHAN, Co-founder of Women in Product
Read the Loonshots Letter
Read the Five Laws of Loonshots