A book by scientist J.E. Oliver on research and discoveries with thought on how to apply his approach more broadly.
ISBN-10: 0231076207
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A lecture from Richard Hamming about creativity and how to cultivate it.
In plate tectonics, all of the interesting effects like mountain formation, earthquakes, happen on the edge of the plates. This is also a useful analogy for any field where the more interesting work happens on the bleeding edge.