Overview

Since the original publication of 40 Principles eight years ago, much has changed in the expanding universe of TRIZ. The two main composers of this text, Genrich Altshuller and Lev Shulyak, have both passed on. The Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies (www.aitriz.org), only a dream when we first put this book together, is now a successful international reality.

At its original birth, this small pamphlet was never meant to be other than a simple exposition of Altshuller's Principles underlying technical innovation. Today, its English incarnation has grown into something more. Translated into several languages, including Japanese and Chinese, its reach has extended far beyond its once modest origin. Many organizations have chosen it as a teaching tool, and its popularity has extended to the general public and their growing curiosity about TRIZ.

Consequently, when we became aware of Dana W. Clarke, Sr. 's updated comments on each of the 40 Principles, we decided to extend our original publication to include them, thereby significantly improving its knowledge value. This also gave us the opportunity to redesign the book for easier use and clearer presentation.

I first got to know Dana more than ten years ago when we were both undergoing an extensive crash TRIZ training marathon from newly arrived first-generation Russian Masters Alla Zusman, Victor Fey, and Boris Zlotin. Since then, I've watched Dana evolve into a primary American authority on TRIZ one of the west's first-generation TRIZ Masters. I know you will find his new commentaries entertaining and insightful.