“We have been fooled by Horace Walpole for almost 300 years! ”
It’s time to unleash authentic serendipity and reveal a truth long buried in the 1557 Italian masterpiece Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo. Here’s your first clue: Peregrinaggio is not an expedition.
The Three Princes were not lone geniuses stumbling upon “happy accidents.” They were collaborative jesters—masters of wit, observation, abduction, and teamwork to uncover hidden truths—designing brilliant setups, like the one that led to finding Diliramma, and another that foiled a poisoning plot against Emperor Beramo
This book restores the real essence of serendipity and places the Jester—Koestler’s timeless archetype alongside the Sage and the Artist—back at center stage. You’ll journey through the secrets of authentic serendipity, the hidden wisdom of medieval court jesters, the science of bisociation, and the urgent call for the 21st Century Jester to re-enter our organizations, ecosystems, and communities.
The concluding part of the book presents the Smile in Mind framework—a spotlight for the 21st Century Jester to shine, fostering insight, dismantling stale thinking, and enabling collective serendipity in the Postnormal Era. After 40 years in business and two decades pioneering serendipity research, Ilkka Kakko distills a lifetime of lessons learned—provocative, practical, and transformational. This isn’t just a book. It’s an invitation to challenge your assumptions, ignite new possibilities, and join the Jesterhood movement. Not all who wonder are lost.
