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Innovation on Tap: Stories of Entrepreneurship from the Cotton Gin to Broadway's Hamilton

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really liked it 4.00  ·  Rating details ·  60 ratings  ·  28 reviews
Innovation on Tap is the story of innovation in America told through the eyes of 25 entrepreneurs, from Eli Whitney and his cotton gin to Lin-Manuel Miranda and his Broadway smash, Hamilton.  

The stories illustrate the sweep and impact of innovation. From razor blades, insurance, and baseball to smart cities, online running communities, and cybersecurity, innovators acros
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Hardcover, 352 pages
Published October 29th 2019 by Greenleaf Book Group Press
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Blaine DeSantis
Disappointingly this book ran out of steam for me by the last few chapters. A very good premise. The author takes us to a virtual bar where all these innovators are gathered to talk and discuss innovation here in the US and he breaks it down by themes: Mechanization, Mass Production, Consumerism, Sustainability and Digitization. Sadly the last two themes are boring as all get out and suffer because most all of the people he discusses in those two sections are not your typical innovators and have ...more
Kelley Matthews
Nov 02, 2019 rated it it was amazing
Innovation on Tap brings together the country’s most innovative problem solvers into one place at the same time to share their stories, and reminds us that “entrepreneurship” isn’t new – it’s been happening in our own country for over two centuries, with roots in solving problems rather than pitch decks and liquidity events.

Having worked with multiple startups, teaching entrepreneurship to university engineers and managing a new venture community network, I found Eric’s book to be both entertain
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Dora Okeyo
Sep 30, 2019 rated it really liked it
I love how this book takes you into the past, giving you the ever evolving face of entrepreneurship over the decades in American history. Indeed, all good stories start from somewhere and though there are many new innovations, systems and places- one thing that this book brought out is that, people are the constant element in all this. And successful entrepreneurs have never stopped looking for better ways to involve people in whatever it is they create.
Thanks Netgalley for the link- I am not a
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Darya
Sep 28, 2019 rated it really liked it
I can call this book a history of innovation. Interesting insights and stories of entrepreneurs, innovators and creative minds from different times. We can lead a lot from the past to focus on our future.
Amit Verma
Dec 18, 2019 rated it really liked it
.We needed hero very time some problem stood firm.
Science came to rescue.
Wars advanced scientific pursuit for destruction which after wars ended, did usher some blessings.
Each time somebody stood firm and took leadership. That particular hero riding on his innovation captured the opportunity that new technology provided.


This book is about such heroes.
It starts with Manufacturing of cotton gin which revolutionized cotton industry and high quality muskets and shovels.
And then all prominent entrepr
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Kim
Grateful to receive as a goodreads giveaway.

Moving to my abandoned before finishing. After starting it, I ended up skimming a lot of it. But as always the fact that it is in abandoned before finishing means I may not be giving it a fully fair shake and your mileage may vary.

Basic premise is a gathering of some innovators to discuss key elements of innovation. It is done in a fictionalized way using the old question of what historical figure would you have over for dinner and why... but here the
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Stacie
Jun 23, 2020 rated it really liked it
Shelves: giveaway-wins
I won a Kindle edition of this book from Goodreads.

This isn't the kind of book I would have typically selected while looking for an interesting read, but I'm trying to branch out and explore some new genres so I registered for a copy of this book. I mean, come on y'all...when is the last time you read a riveting book about entrepreneurship? But, history? I love a good history read, so why not?

This book was fun. It was really fun! Imagine walking into a bar and meeting some of the greatest invent
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Alison
Aug 05, 2020 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
This sounded like a fun book, putting a bunch of innovators in a bar scene and giving the reader a brief insight to why each individual should be considered an innovator. The premise of the book however falls short. In my opinion this would have made a better Netflix mini series than a book. That is not to say that it's not still an interesting book, because it is, but that the angle at which the book was written missed it's mark. I did enjoy reading about various people from history whom I woul ...more
Adriana
May 22, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Okay, so here's the deal.
This is a highly informative and concise listing of some of the greatest innovators and entrepreneurs in American History. It's the tales of some of the people that defined what it means and takes to start a new business throughout the different eras of America. It is well presented, well written, and pleasant in the way it presents and condenses the lives and achievements of some fascinating people.
However!
I did not enjoy the way that Schultz decided to piece the stor
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Stephanie Rossman
Jul 26, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
This book was much better than I expected. I’m not usually one who enjoys ready about history or inventions, but this book was told from a unique perspective- great innovators of the last three centuries sitting together in a barroom and telling their stories. I thought the book was well-organized, dividing the innovators into categories of mechanization, mass production, consumerism, sustainability, and digitization. I was a bit surprised by the author’s choice in innovators, though. I feel lik ...more
Elizabeth Herr
Thank you Goodreads Giveaways for a copy of this book.

This one took me a while to get through, but I am happy to say that I've finally finished it! Schultz's idea for this book is brilliant - the setting, the organization, and the selection of entrepreneurs. I enjoyed the barroom aspect and how that was something the reader always came back to. Unfortunately, I ended up skimming the second half of the book. It just lost its steam as the chapters went on. I did learn quite a bit though and look f
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Liz
Oct 07, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
This is an innovative way to present some of the history of American entrepreneurship over the last 200 years. There are 25 unique (and mostly interesting stories) of how innovation from all sorts of endeavors can make the world different. I'm not a business person but I would think anyone trying to succeed in that field would find a lot to learn from these experiences. I thought it would be a dry read but it turned out that I enjoyed this book more than I anticipated.
I won a copy of this book i
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Kurt Jensen
A hodge-podge with goofy framing, but a fairly enjoyable collection of stories for adult learners to make of what they will. No perspective of its own, besides what it chooses to include--it really swallows and regurgitates whatever popular narrative there is about a thing, so it doesn't add much value besides being a ~fun~ little collection which is hit and miss. I appreciated the historical stories more than the contemporary ones. ...more
Reena
Jun 24, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
This is an interesting spin on the classic 'interview' format: the author hosts a night out in a bar for numerous innovators (and the definition isn't what you might think!), both alive and deceased.
Each chapter introduces you to a new person and highlights what distinguishes them from your run-of-the-mill businessmen and turned them into true entrepreneurs.
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Kristina Aziz
Apr 13, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Good beginners resource

Excellent gift for the young (or old) MBA in your life, or anyone who is interested in creating a business bit doesn't know the first thing about business.

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway
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Robin Olson
Feb 06, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Innovation on Tap is an engaging read, set in a tap room with some extraordinary entrepreneurs. The manner in which Schultz shares how each came into their own and changed their respective industries/ products kept me engaged until the end. I highly recommend this!
Thomas Lambe
Jan 12, 2020 rated it it was amazing
I received an ARC of this new work from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this new book about the history of innovation. It was packed with meaningful insights. Worth reading for anyone interested in history/technology...etc. Definitely recommend. I will buy some copies for my work team.
Tim
Sep 25, 2020 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
This was an enjoyable read. Introduced many historical figures and their historical contributions. It sparked my interest in earning more about some of those individuals. It is not a deep, intellectual look at the nature of innovation, and I do not think it holds itself out that way.
Bri
Jul 05, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Interesting fictional barroom conversations with American entrepreneurs, coupled with rich history

I really enjoyed reading this story with a host of American entrepreneurs in a fictional barroom coupled with stories of what they accomplished and how. Good read.
x x x
Aug 01, 2020 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Good motivation

Too many examples of creative destruction amid success stories not to feel good and inspired. Current with strong historical underpinnings and terrific notes plus an index.
Don Findlay
Aug 13, 2020 rated it it was amazing
This is a great tour through the history of innovation, using a fun bar scene format to make connections across people, eras and technologies. Non-fiction written with entertainment.
Heather Bennett
Dec 01, 2019 rated it it was amazing
Innovation on Tap is a fantastic view of innovators and entrepreneurs throughout the years. This book is well written and has great insights.
Csimplot Simplot
Excellent Book!!!
Faith
Oct 20, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Great insight into some of the all time brilliant minds!
Mary
Apr 07, 2020 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Interesting read
Eric Schultz
Aug 23, 2019 added it  ·  (Review from the author)
“One of the most unique and useful books on entrepreneurship I’ve ever read.
Eric deftly guides us through a journey with history’s greatest entrepreneurs—
their innovations, incredible obstacles, and the drama that fueled their historic
impact. Every chapter and page offer modern entrepreneurs unique lessons
and insights to succeed in their own ventures.”
—CJ CORNELL, serial entrepreneur and author, The Age of
Metapreneurship and The Startup Brain Trust

“Imagine the ability to eavesdrop on the banter
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Lauren
"If you could invite 3 people to dinner who would you invite?"

Everyone is familiar with that question, well this author took that question and made his own "If we got all the innovators and entrepreneurs together in a bar, what could we learn?"

Fun premise that provides a good mix of information and humor/fun to make this. Very informative and inspirational on how the now "basic" and "simple" things we use in everyday life were once nonexistent till these innovators finally said "Enough!".

This
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Dayna
Jan 31, 2020 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
The earlier sections provide a lot of interesting historical information, but overall the book reads a little 'thin,' especially as the narrative moves toward the contemporary era. I received a Kindle edition from a Goodreads giveaway. ...more
irfan  bekleyen
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Feb 16, 2021
Cord Morgan
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Aug 15, 2020
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Eric has spent his career in entrepreneurial and leadership roles, including as senior vice president of Midwest operations for American Cablesystems, co-founder and president of Atlantic Ventures, and chairman and CEO of Sensitech, a venture-backed business twice named to the Inc. 500 before being acquired by Carrier Corporation. Eric served as a CEO-partner with Ascent Ventures, as executive cha ...more

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