Coming together, thinking better, and moving forward is a cool idea. And we at Collective Next are not the only ones who think so.

Woody Allen’s film Midnight in Paris, which depicts the ensemble of famous innovators that were all present and collaborating in Paris during the 1920s, has been nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards. The movie features characters like Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and Salvadore Dalí, all whom shared ideas, challenged each other’s work, and changed the course of artistic expression. 

Similarly, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough’s latest novel, The Greater Journey, which describes the lives of the great American innovators who came together in Paris during the 19th century such as Elizabeth Blackwell and Samuel Morse, is a #1 New York Times Best Seller. Like the collaborators that followed them, they were driven by the idea of people coming together, challenging each other to push the limits of knowledge and creativity to create something that previously did not exist and moves us all forward.

So, where can one go today to experience such an engaging and inspiring exchange of ideas? This year it is Palm Springs and Long Beach, CA. TEDActive2012 and TED2012 Full Spectrum are today’s version of the Paris of the 19th century and the 1920s. TED is bringing together some of the most innovative and provocative present day thinkers to present their ideas ranging “from dazzling technology and leading-edge science to the richest veins of human creativity and interconnection” and most of all, “to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.”

Join us at TEDActive2012! Find out how in our blog post The Grandest of Collaborations at your fingertips…

For a preview of books written by TED2012 speakers visit Brain Pickings blog post Full Spectrum Reading List: 7 Great Books by TED 2012 Speakers.

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