Adapt - Why Success Always Starts with Failure by Harford Tim

Written by leading economist Tim Harford, the book presents a groundbreaking analysis of major international events and reveals why successful solutions continue to remain elusive.

Summary Of The Book

Today, incredibly innovative technologies are being discovered like never before. Yet, most significant world issues remain largely unresolved. Be it the issue of global warming or the recurrent financial crises, problems are only becoming bigger and unmanageable with time. In Adapt: Why Success Always Starts With Failure, leading economist Tim Harford presents an in-depth analysis of such world events, pointing out the reasons why solutions remain elusive despite continued efforts for finding a solution.

He dismisses contemporary methodologies of solving large scale issues. Instead, he delves deep into history to understand what worked before and how the same can be adapted in present times. He reflects upon the concept of a good idea, a successful idea, as opposed to disruptive innovations. In essence, he presents the conditions that must be met to achieve such success, the most critical of which is the ability to expose deep-seated failures.

About Tim Harford

Tim Harford is a renowned English economist.

He is famous for his weekly columns Dear Economist and The Undercover Economist in The Financial Times. He is also the author of four books, including The Undercover Economist, The Logic Of Life, and The Market For Aid.

Harford is known for simplifying complex economic phenomenon and presenting them in laymen terms. He strives to provide fresh perspective on prevalent economic theory, supported by adequate quantitative evidence and a light touch of humour.

Harford did a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University. He also received his M. Phil. in Economics from Oxford. He is the presenter of popular radio show More or Less, where he gives his expert analysis of the latest news. He has also presented a popular BBC TV show Trust Me, I'm an Economist. He has briefly worked with the International Finance Corporation and is a visiting fellow at the Nuffield College, Oxford University.