{"title":"Anton Blok","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the transformative works of Anton Blok, a distinguished scholar in the \u003cem\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/em\u003e genre. As an author well-regarded for his insightful analysis of societal changes, Blok delves deeply into the lives and impacts of historical figures who have been true game-changers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of his most acclaimed works, \u003cem\u003eRadical Innovators\u003c\/em\u003e, explores the daring and sometimes controversial individuals who have altered the course of history through their revolutionary ideas and actions. Blok’s narrative is not just a recount of historical events but an investigation into the motivations and challenges faced by these trailblazers, making each biography as engrossing as it is informative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a history buff or a casual reader seeking to understand the forces that have shaped our world, Anton Blok's works offer a compelling vision into the lives of those who dared to innovate and defy conventional norms. Immerse yourself in his meticulously researched stories that illuminate pivotal moments in history with clarity and passion.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"radical-innovators-by-anton-blok-9781509505524","title":"Radical Innovators","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this book, leading cultural anthropologist Anton Blok sheds new light on the lives and achievements of pioneers who revolutionised science and art over the past five centuries, demonstrating that adversity rather than talent alone was crucial to their success.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough a collective biography of some ninety radical innovators, including Erasmus, Spinoza, Newton, Bach, Sade, Darwin, Melville, Mendel, Cézanne, Curie, Brâncusi, Einstein, Wittgenstein, Keynes, and Goodall, Blok shows how a significant proportion, in fact, benefited from social exclusion. Beethoven’s increasing deafness isolated him from his friends, creating more time for composing and experimenting, while Darwin’s chronic illness gave him an excuse to avoid social gatherings and get on with his work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdversity took various forms, including illegitimate birth, early parental loss, conflict with parents, bankruptcy, chronic illness, physical deficiencies, neurological and genetic disorders, minority status, peripheral origins, poverty, exile, and detention. Blok argues, however, that all these misfortunes had the same effect: alienation from mainstream society. As outsiders, innovators could question conventional beliefs and practices. With little to lose, they could take chances and exploit opportunities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith governments, universities, and industry all emphasising the importance of investing in innovation, typically understood to mean planned and focussed research teams, \u003cem\u003eRadical Innovators\u003c\/em\u003e runs counter to conventional wisdom. For far more often, radical innovation in science and art is entirely unscripted, resulting from trial and error by individuals ready to take risks, fail, and start again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000720736492,"sku":"9781509505524","price":42.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/12077493482725.jpg?v=1763300334"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/anton-blok.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}