The Infinite Alphabet

Brought to you by Penguin.

The celebrated scientist and author of Why Information Grows reveals how knowledge moves, drives progress and shapes the world

We all understand that knowledge shapes the fate of business and the growth of nations, but few of us are aware of the principles that govern its movement. In The Infinite Alphabet César A. Hidalgo, world-renowned for his work on economic complexity, unravels the laws describing the growth and diffusion of knowledge. To understand it, he shows, we must accept that it is not a single thing, but an ever-growing tapestry of unique ideas, experiences and received wisdom: an infinite alphabet that we are only beginning to fathom.

Hidalgo walks you through the ‘three laws’ that predict how knowledge grows, moves, and decays. Through dozens of stories, he takes the reader from a failed attempt to build a city of knowledge in Ecuador to the growth of China’s innovation economy, explaining why aircraft manufacturers in Italy began manufacturing scooters after the Second World War and how migrants like Samuel Slater shaped the industrial fabric of the United States.

By the end of this journey, you will understand everything from why knowledge grows exponentially in the electronics industry to what mechanisms allow knowledge to cross geographic borders, social networks, and professional boundaries.

These principles will teach you how knowledge shapes the world.

© César A. Hidalgo 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025