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Graziadio Professor Matthew E. May Publishes In Pursuit of Elegance
Matthew E. May, who recently joined the faculty at the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University, weaves a lyrical blend of stories and insights about creative ideas and innovative solutions in his new book, In Pursuit of Elegance: Why the Best Ideas Have Something Missing. The book debuted at No. 1 on 800CEORead.com and No. 2 in the Creativity & Genius category on Amazon.com.
“In Pursuit of Elegance is a fascinating intellectual romp that will change the way you look at your surroundings,” says Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, in a review of the book.
May joined the Graziadio School as a supporting faculty member in Spring 2009. He is a consultant to the University of Toyota and the author of the critically acclaimed The Elegant Solution, which won the Shingo Research Prize for Excellence. A popular speaker, he lectures to corporations, governments, and universities around the world, and works confidentially with creative teams and senior leaders at a number of top Fortune-listed companies.
In the book, May examines the elusive element behind so many innovative breakthroughs in fields ranging from physics and marketing to design and popular culture. He calls these examples “elegant,” because they have the unique and elusive combination of unusual simplicity and surprising power. May characterizes elegance by four key elements — seduction, subtraction, symmetry, and sustainability. In a story-driven narrative that sheds light on the need for elegance in design, engineering, art, urban planning, sports, and work, May contends that what's “not there” often trumps what is.
“As he takes readers from Jackson Pollock paintings to Dutch intersections to the secret menu at In-N-Out Burger, Matt May reveals the hidden elements beneath genuine innovation," Pinks writes. "This book is surprising, compelling, and, yes, extremely elegant.”
Listen to Professor May discuss In Pursuit of Elegance in recent Internet radio interview on Blog Business World with Wayne Hurlbert.
