Jugaad is old hat. It has done little for India in terms of innovation; India ranks 64th in the Global Innovation Index. In today’s globalized marketplace, it is increasingly difficult to survive with just quick fixes or creative improvisation. Indian companies have no option but to move beyond jugaad towards a more dependable and systematic process of innovation.

This highly readable book is a combination of science journalism and travelogue, addressing one of the most interesting questions of the 21st century: how will one of the world’s oldest civilisations balance its deep traditions with modern science, and emerge with game-changing innovations? “India was one of the most powerful scientific nations of all,” says the author, and it may even be “the birthplace of the geek.”

The slender book makes for an easy read, and is full of inspiring photographs, stimulating ideas, inspirational quotes, useful examples and innovative exercises. Each chapter is short, just a page or two in length, with actionable tips and checklists.

‘Fail fast, learn fast’ is the mantra of the times for startups. This insightful book by Laurence Weinzimmer and Jim McConoughey addresses how companies can succeed by knowing failure, and offers a useful classification of the different kinds of organisational and leadership failures.