The Runaway Species

Anthony Brandt and David Eagleman’s The Runaway Species: How Human Creativity Remakes the World (2017) explores the origins and endpoints of creative impulses in humans. Brandt, a composer, and Eagleman, a neuroscientist, provide a different perspective on the subject matter.

A central thesis of the book is that creativity and innovation are inherent qualities of the human species and two of the things that set humans apart from other animals. Once a new idea or technique has been introduced to a human population, it is quickly adopted by others, becoming the new normal. This can be seen in the rapid adoption of new technologies, especially those related to computers and smartphones.

Prone to boredom, humans are primed to seek out new and novel ideas. They also enjoy being part of movements and crowds, and so, they will adopt new things when they see others doing the same. Rather than indicating a lack of free thought, this, instead, demonstrates that innovation is inherently a social activity. People want to share new ideas with others and help movements form.



According to Brandt and Eagleman, new ideas do not form in a vacuum. Instead, they build on existing ideas, changing and improving upon what is already there. Three different principles guide creative innovation: bending, breaking, and blending.

Bending involves slightly remaking or reforming something that already exists. This principle works best when the existing prototype of an object or idea is a good one but can be improved. Human culture often does this naturally, bending some of its most important values and institutions over time so that they are better adapted to different cultures and times. Examples of this are changes to religion and systems of government. These institutions date back hundreds or thousands of years but have been changed to adapt to changing times.

Breaking works best when an existing thing or idea is no longer practical or useful in its existing form. When this happens, the thing must be taken apart and something new developed in its place. However, the new variation often uses some fragments, parts, or ideas from the original. The few pieces of the original that are still relevant or valuable are salvaged for use in the new prototype. Examples of breaking occur whenever there is a significant paradigm shift in a culture. These occur when philosophy or art undergo a major change to keep up with changes to the outside world.



Blending occurs when two existing ideas are combined in a new or unique way. The human brain is quite good at this because it is wired to look for patterns and similarities, even among things that at first glance do not have much in common. Blending is a powerful way to innovate because it happens when different lines of thought bleed together to make something greater than the sum of its parts. This type of innovation can be seen in the technology sector when a new device combines functions and features of two or more older devices.

In the second half of the book, Brandt and Eagleman discuss how to get the most out of creative impulses. They admit that ideas that stray too far from the established norm may be rejected as strange, such as the work of Van Gogh which went unappreciated during its day and was only recognized for its creativity later. However, an aversion to risk can also lead to being thought of as boring or behind the times, such as when Blackberry smartphones underperformed because they hewed too closely to existing preferences rather than pushing into new territory.

For this reason, the authors encourage a high tolerance for risk. New ideas take root when risk and learning from mistakes are encouraged. Often, new ideas need to go through several failed prototypes before they emerge as a workable idea or product, so both creative people and those around them should exercise patience when working through new ideas.



Finally, Brandt and Eagleman offer advice for schools that want to usher in a new generation of creative thinkers. They encourage teachers and school leaders to create an environment in which students learn the principles of creative thought so they can develop their own ideas rather than just memorizing existing ones. Students should also be praised for their efforts rather than just their outcomes, a strategy which promotes a willingness to fail and try again. A robust arts program also helps foster creativity, as does a well-rounded curriculum that gives students access to many different ideas and tools for looking at the world.