The Misfit Economy
Lessons in Creativity from Pirates, Hackers, Gangsters and Other Informal Entrepreneurs
Published on 12. January 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-4516-8883-2 (ISBN)
Description
The Misfit Economy is about people who are just as innovative, entrepreneurial, and visionary as the Jobses, Edisons, and Fords of the world, except they're not operating out of Silicon Valley. They're in the street markets of Sao Paulo and Guangzhou, the rubbish dumps of Lagos, the flooded coastal towns of Thailand. They are pirates, slum dwellers, computer hackers, dissidents, and inner city gang members.
Across the globe, diverse innovators are working in the black, grey, and informal economies to develop solutions to myriad challenges. Far from being "deviant entrepreneurs" that pose threats to our social and economic stability, these innovators display remarkable ingenuity, pioneering original methods and best practices that we can learn from and apply to formal markets in urgent need of change.
Across the globe, diverse innovators are working in the black, grey, and informal economies to develop solutions to myriad challenges. Far from being "deviant entrepreneurs" that pose threats to our social and economic stability, these innovators display remarkable ingenuity, pioneering original methods and best practices that we can learn from and apply to formal markets in urgent need of change.
Reviews / Votes
"This imaginative, provocative book reveals that if we want to overcome barriers, we can find surprisingly valuable lessons underground. I never expected to learn so much about entrepreneurship and innovation from pirates and gangsters." -- Adam Grant, Wharton professor and author of GIVE AND TAKE "What do Somali pirates, Amish camel-milkers, and gang leaders have in common? They're all innovative-and successful-misfits in today's global economy. Think you can't learn anything from outlaws and provocateurs? This book will make you think again with engaging stories and insightful analysis of how people operating on the fringes create unique business models, and in the process transform the culture around them." -- Daniel H. Pink, author of TO SELL IS HUMAN and DRIVE "The Misfit Economy helps us to understand the lives of those men and women who have had to depend on illegal enterprise just to get by. In this book you'll learn how the misfit economies can bring meaning to those who are hopeless, jobless, and hungry for more than a handout. You'll meet people who are just like everyone else in searching for freedom and opportunity, but aren't afraid to bend the rules of the system." -- King Tone, Former Leader of the Latin Kings, a hispanic street gang "If you want to learn what Somali pirates have in common with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, read this book. It's a colourful guide on how to shine a light on the ingenuity that often lies in the dark depths of all types organisations." -- Rachel Botsman, co-author of What's Mine is Yours: How Collaborative Consumption is Changing the Way We Live "For those wanting a fresh perspective on business practices or working lives, this is a snappy introduction to a new way of thinking." * Financial Times * A well-paced read about a unique perspective on supply and demand and those who create it. For anyone interested in business or economics-especially those who hustle. * Library Journal * "Lively and insightful."-The EconomistMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 211 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
229 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4516-8883-2 (9781451688832)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Alexa Clay | Kyra Maya Phillips
The Misfit Economy
Lessons in Creativity from Pirates, Hackers, Gangsters and Other Informal Entrepreneurs
E-Book
06/2015
1st Edition
Simon + Schuster LLC
€12.85
Available for download
Persons
Alexa Clay is a storyteller and leading expert on subculture. She is the cofounder of the League of Intrapreneurs, a movement to create change from within big business and the founder of Wisdom Hackers, an incubator for philosophical inquiry. Alexa initiates projects through the collective The Human Agency, which aims to create communities of purpose around the world. Formerly she was a director at Ashoka, a global nonprofit that invests in social entrepreneurs. A graduate of Brown University and Oxford University, she is the author (with Kyra Maya Phillips) of The Misfit Economy.
Kyra Maya Phillips is a writer and innovation strategist. She is a director of The Point People, a network based consultancy focused on innovation and systemic change. Previously, Kyra worked as a journalist for The Guardian, where she focused on environmental reporting, and at as a consultant at SustainAbility, a London based think-tank and consultancy. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, but is now based in London, where she lives with her husband and son. A graduate of The London School of Economics, she is the author (with Alexa Clay) of The Misfit Economy.
Kyra Maya Phillips is a writer and innovation strategist. She is a director of The Point People, a network based consultancy focused on innovation and systemic change. Previously, Kyra worked as a journalist for The Guardian, where she focused on environmental reporting, and at as a consultant at SustainAbility, a London based think-tank and consultancy. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, but is now based in London, where she lives with her husband and son. A graduate of The London School of Economics, she is the author (with Alexa Clay) of The Misfit Economy.