Talk & Discussion

Elastic Thinking with Leonard Mlodinow

10 Apr 2018

 / 6:00pm to 7:30pm
 / Free
Event has passed

Why do some businesses survive, and others fail at the first sign of change? Where do new ideas come from? What gives the human brain the edge over AI?

American theoretical physicist and writer Leonard Mlodinow will be making a special appearance at Second Home Spitalfields to discuss these big questions and more, exploring the ideas outlined in his new book Elastic, which argues that we need ‘elastic thinking’ to succeed in a fast-paced changing world.

Elastic draws on cutting-edge research from neuroscience and psychology to explain the differences between analytical and elastic thinking, revealing how we can actually train our brains to be more creative and innovative.

Leonard discovers how flexible thinking enabled some of the world's greatest innovations and creations – from cinemas introducing jumbo-sized popcorn portions to Mary Shelley writing her masterpiece Frankenstein – and investigates how organisations like Nike and Pokémon Go have demonstrated an elastic ability to adapt to new technologies.

Leonard will be in conversation with journalist and author Steven Poole.

Tickets are free for members and £3 for non-members.

You can also prepurchase a copy of the book (from our bookshop Libreria) with your ticket which will be ready for you on the night.

All proceeds from our cultural programme go to the Kibera Hamlets School in Nairobi, where Second Home has funded the construction of a new school building designed by our architects Selgas Cano.

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