In 'Messy', Tim Harford unveils the hidden power of chaos and disorder in our lives. Rather than striving for perfect organization, he argues that embracing messiness can lead to creativity and innovation. Through captivating anecdotes and research, he demonstrates how a little disorder can foster resilience and adaptability. Harford’s insights challenge conventional wisdom, making readers rethink their approach to work and life. Discover why sometimes a little mess might be exactly what you need to thrive!
By Tim Harford
Published: 2017
""In a world that often prizes neatness and order, embracing the chaos of messiness can lead not only to creativity but to unforeseen opportunities for growth and connection.""
“Utterly fascinating. Tim Harford shows that if you want to be creative and resilient, you need a little more disorder in your world.” —Adam Grant, New York Times-bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take “Engrossing.” —New York Times From the award-winning columnist and author of the national bestseller The Undercover Economist comes a provocative big idea book about the genuine benefits of being messy: at home, at work, in the classroom, and beyond. Look out for Tim's next book, The Data Detective. Messy: The Power of Disorder to Transform Our Lives celebrates the benefits that messiness has in our lives: why it’s important, why we resist it, and why we should embrace it instead. Using research from neuroscience, psychology, social science, as well as captivating examples of real people doing extraordinary things, Tim Harford explains that the human qualities we value – creativity, responsiveness, resilience – are integral to the disorder, confusion, and disarray that produce them. From the music studio of Brian Eno to the Lincoln Memorial with Martin Luther King, Jr., from the board room to the classroom, messiness lies at the core of how we innovate, how we achieve, how we reach each other – in short, how we succeed. In Messy, you’ll learn about the unexpected connections between creativity and mess; understand why unexpected changes of plans, unfamiliar people, and unforeseen events can help generate new ideas and opportunities as they make you anxious and angry; and come to appreciate that the human inclination for tidiness – in our personal and professional lives, online, even in children’s play – can mask deep and debilitating fragility that keep us from innovation. Stimulating and readable as it points exciting ways forward, Messy is an insightful exploration of the real advantages of mess in our lives.
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“"In a world that often prizes neatness and order, embracing the chaos of messiness can lead not only to creativity but to unforeseen opportunities for growth and connection."”
Messy
By Tim Harford
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Tim Harford is a British economist, author, and journalist best known for his ability to explain complex economic concepts in an accessible and engaging manner. He is the author of several notable works, including 'The Undercover Economist,' 'Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure,' and 'How to Make the World Add Up.' Harford's writing style is characterized by its clarity, humor, and a knack for storytelling, making economics relatable to a broad audience. He also writes a column for the Financial Times and hosts the podcast 'More or Less,' which tackles the numbers behind the news.
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