The Misfit Economy: Lessons in Creativity from Pirates, Hackers, Gangsters and Other Informal Entrepreneurs

“Lively and insightful.”-The Economist A well-paced read about a unique perspective on supply and demand and those who create it. For anyone interested in business or economics-especially those who hustle. * Library Journal * “For those wanting a fresh perspective on business practices or working lives, this is a snappy introduction to a new way of thinking.” * Financial Times * “If you want to learn what Somali pirates have in common with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, read this book. It’s a colourful guide on how to shine a light on the ingenuity that often lies in the dark depths of all types organisations.” – Rachel Botsman, co-author of What’s Mine is Yours: How Collaborative Consumption is Changing the Way We Live “The Misfit Economy helps us to understand the lives of those men and women who have had to depend on illegal enterprise just to get by. In this book you’ll learn how the misfit economies can bring meaning to those who are hopeless, jobless, and hungry for more than a handout. You’ll meet people who are just like everyone else in searching for freedom and opportunity, but aren’t afraid to bend the rules of the system.” – King Tone, Former Leader of the Latin Kings, a hispanic street gang “What do Somali pirates, Amish camel-milkers, and gang leaders have in common? They’re all innovative-and successful-misfits in today’s global economy. Think you can’t learn anything from outlaws and provocateurs? This book will make you think again with engaging stories and insightful analysis of how people operating on the fringes create unique business models, and in the process transform the culture around them.” – Daniel H. Pink, author of TO SELL IS HUMAN and DRIVE “This imaginative, provocative book reveals that if we want to overcome barriers, we can find surprisingly valuable lessons underground. I never expected to learn so much about entrepreneurship and innovation from pirates and gangsters.” – Adam Grant, Wharton professor and author of GIVE AND TAKE

Alexa Clay is a storyteller and leading expert on subculture. She is the cofounder of the League of Intrapreneurs, a movement to create change from within big business and the founder of Wisdom Hackers, an incubator for philosophical inquiry. Alexa initiates projects through the collective The Human Agency, which aims to create communities of purpose around the world. Formerly she was a director at Ashoka, a global nonprofit that invests in social entrepreneurs. A graduate of Brown University and Oxford University, she is the author (with Kyra Maya Phillips) of The Misfit Economy.

Kyra Maya Phillips is a writer and innovation strategist. She is a director of The Point People, a network based consultancy focused on innovation and systemic change. Previously, Kyra worked as a journalist for The Guardian, where she focused on environmental reporting, and at as a consultant at SustainAbility, a London based think-tank and consultancy. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, but is now based in London, where she lives with her husband and son. A graduate of The London School of Economics, she is the author (with Alexa Clay) of The Misfit Economy.