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A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative
Praised by business leaders, educators, scientists, and artists, this classic bestseller on creativity has stimulated readers around the world for over 15 years. Now, Roger von Oech's fully-illustrated volume has been updated for the new millennium with even more provocative puzzles, anecdotes, exercises, metaphors, cartoons, questions, quotations, stories, and tips design...more
Paperback, 232 pages
Published
December 1st 1998
by Warner Books
(first published February 1st 1973)
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This is a book to always come back to. When I am in a slump and not feeling "it" I turn to Roger Von Oech. A mentor 16 years ago highly recommended this book. It is one of the well worn books on my shelf!
Jun 27, 2011
Tatjana
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Tatjana by:
No One
I read this book in a couple of hours.
It's an older book that has been on my shelves for an age. Maybe two ages. It's the 1983 version and lacks the slick, over-designed look of today's books. It has comments by people relevant at the time. In fact, it was from a time when our industries were still relevant. Before we started truly believing that Americans are no longer innovative industrialists.
This book made it clear to me what thinking has made it so.
This book also made it clear how I've part...more
It's an older book that has been on my shelves for an age. Maybe two ages. It's the 1983 version and lacks the slick, over-designed look of today's books. It has comments by people relevant at the time. In fact, it was from a time when our industries were still relevant. Before we started truly believing that Americans are no longer innovative industrialists.
This book made it clear to me what thinking has made it so.
This book also made it clear how I've part...more
A nice, quick read that talks about what blocks us all from being creative and gives you some ideas of what to do about it. I wouldn't say anything in this book is revolutionary, but it is succinctly stated with some fun illustrations to go along with the words. It talks a lot about embracing risk, change, and ambiguity so that you can experience new things and try new ideas. It also talks about thinking of yourself as creative and trying to change your thinking so that you look at things from d...more
My sister-in-law gave me this book along with its companion volume several years ago. (Thank you, Becky) I recently rediscovered it, and decided to actually read it this time...And it was very readable--filled with fun anecdotes, facts, and exercises. I admit I had heard some of them before, but enjoyed revisiting. My favorite story was about the idea to add flower seed to dog food so that dogs would eat the food and then go around the neighborhood planting flowers with their self generated fert...more
Of all the "how to" books I've read, this is the one that really stuck with me. I often think of the simple principles so vividly presented in this book, and employ them at every opportunity. Stuck in a rut? Drive a different way to work, take a different set of stairs, shop the grocery store in the opposite direction of the way you normally go. Most memorable is the exercise in looking at common, every day experiences in a new way. For example, a revolving door as a merry go round. I read this...more
Sep 17, 2010
Viraj
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those who find it interesting after reading the summary
Recommended to Viraj by:
Richard Boulger
Shelves:
self-help
The book has some good ideas…
Directly from the book (my comments in brackets):
The page numbers were not noted.
Pg. Quoted
Alber Szent – Gyorgy (Nobel): Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.
Mental locks: -
The right answer That’s not logical Follow the rules Be practical
Play is frivolous That’s not my area Avoid ambiguity Don’t be foolish
To err is wrong I’m not creative
We need the ability to unlearn what we know
The danger of habit...more
Directly from the book (my comments in brackets):
The page numbers were not noted.
Pg. Quoted
Alber Szent – Gyorgy (Nobel): Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.
Mental locks: -
The right answer That’s not logical Follow the rules Be practical
Play is frivolous That’s not my area Avoid ambiguity Don’t be foolish
To err is wrong I’m not creative
We need the ability to unlearn what we know
The danger of habit...more
Dec 31, 2008
Marnia
added it
This is an excellent self-improvement book. It teaches you how to really think outside the box and look at things from a different perspective to solve problems or create new ideas. The author inserts various random exercises for you to think about to stimulate your brain into thinking from a different perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed it and intend to incorporate some of his methods into my leadership training program this year at work.
Read this compendium of ideas for getting into a creating-creativity mindset! The book is filled with examples of creative thinking. The author offers numerous tips, with specificity, on what you can do now to apply creativity in your life.
I especially like the explanation of the Mobius strip.
By the way, if you get this book, don't loan it. You probably won't get it back.
I especially like the explanation of the Mobius strip.
By the way, if you get this book, don't loan it. You probably won't get it back.
I like to think i'm both smart enough and creative enough to have already implemented several of the "thinking outside the box" ideas in this book but it was really good to read someone advocating "look for the second right answer" in a variety of applications. If you're stuck in a rut or work with someone who is a very rigid thinker, this one might just free you a little bit.
This is a wonderful book for anyone - teachers, office workers, students, salesmen - anyone can get something helpful out of spending a little time with this book. It gives you methods for looking at problems from outside the box - WAY outside the box in some cases! But it can help you break out of the, "we've always done it this way..." solutions to problems!
I liked the book. It's filled with real life examples and illustrations, not just theories. As the title says, the book can help you to be more creative by changing your perception to the world. It simply makes you think about problems and solutions from a totally new perspective. What I liked most was the illustrations in the book, they're amazing. I highly recommend this book for everyone.
Excellent! Fantastic methods on how to stimulate the creative juices.
But I wouldn't be me if I didn't have quibble.
In Rule #3, Oech says that rules should actually be used as a form of stimulation.
But in Rule #8, he says that specificity stifles imagination. And therefore, one shouldn't be too specific.
To me, specificity is sort of like rules. So, between numbers 3 & 8, isn't that a contradiction? I mean, shouldn't challenging specificity be stimulating creativity?
But I wouldn't be me if I didn't have quibble.
In Rule #3, Oech says that rules should actually be used as a form of stimulation.
But in Rule #8, he says that specificity stifles imagination. And therefore, one shouldn't be too specific.
To me, specificity is sort of like rules. So, between numbers 3 & 8, isn't that a contradiction? I mean, shouldn't challenging specificity be stimulating creativity?
This was honestly an awesome book I read after it was given to me from a work colleague. It helps you look at things differently, problem solve differently, etc. I think this would be a great tool for anyone in any field of work- from real estate, to legal work, to being a stay at home mom. It's an easy read and one that can be read quickly-
I had an expectation of understanding the various avenues of how to overcome the hiccup of inside-the-box thinking, how to break the shackles of limited thinking. The book definitely addresses that in terms of explaining in detail the 12 mental locks. Examples with exercises are very good. I would need this as a reference.
Towards the end, the author explains the thumb rules by Heraclitus, a 6th century BC philospher, but its been very abrupt and short. Also some illustrations are over-exaggerat...more
Towards the end, the author explains the thumb rules by Heraclitus, a 6th century BC philospher, but its been very abrupt and short. Also some illustrations are over-exaggerat...more
A fast read with good advice and pictures that made my kids laugh. I got more out of Becoming A Writer since that was more tailor-made to my interests, but the basic idea is the same. You need your inner editor, but sometimes you have to tell it to shut up. The assessment of how education squelches our creativity was right on!
Jun 29, 2010
Sarah Mostafa
marked it as to-read
حد عنده نسخه الكترونيه من الكتاب ده؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟
انا بقال سنه بدور عليه فى مصر كلـــــــها
ومش لاقياه ومحتاجاه جدا
نسخه الكترونيه لله يا محسنين :'(
:D
انا بقال سنه بدور عليه فى مصر كلـــــــها
ومش لاقياه ومحتاجاه جدا
نسخه الكترونيه لله يا محسنين :'(
:D
What if you read this book?
What if it opened up ideas in your head that made your life more interesting and pleasurable?
What if you were freed from the obligation of trying to be right?
Ahhhh, yes, these would all be good things.
What if it opened up ideas in your head that made your life more interesting and pleasurable?
What if you were freed from the obligation of trying to be right?
Ahhhh, yes, these would all be good things.
Recommended for everyone. If God is the Creator and we're made in His image, then to be creative is to be more like God. This book is a fun and practical guide to awakening and encouraging your creative side.
Loved that one. I bought a few extra copies and gave to a few of my most creative friends.
This book gives a few tricks to unlock creative potential, as well as guidelines on how and when to use your creativity.
This book gives a few tricks to unlock creative potential, as well as guidelines on how and when to use your creativity.
This book is written in a simple-to-understand format, and lots of fun! The whacky illustration helps a lot too.
In this book, the author writes about the mental locks of creativity, and how the readers can unlock these mental locks. A lot of the suggestions may not sound "practical" at first, but if you're willing to give it a try, I believe it may really be of help. Although I have not personally gone through each and every advice given, I did practice some of them already, and therefore can a...more
In this book, the author writes about the mental locks of creativity, and how the readers can unlock these mental locks. A lot of the suggestions may not sound "practical" at first, but if you're willing to give it a try, I believe it may really be of help. Although I have not personally gone through each and every advice given, I did practice some of them already, and therefore can a...more
This book will get you whacked in the head for sure!
It's also fully loaded with creative insights and even come up with out-of-the-box exercises to sharpen your understanding. Worth the time!
It's also fully loaded with creative insights and even come up with out-of-the-box exercises to sharpen your understanding. Worth the time!
A good book to encourage creativity. Useful for analysts of all types and writers. Unfortunately the people most in need of these techniques are likely to ignore them.
An engaging book on creativity filled with tips and techniques on how to think differently. Fun, quick read with a narrative that flows smoothly and awesome illustrations!
Very approachable in that you can basically open to any chapter and jump right in. Also check out the "Creative Whack Pack" cards, great for brainstorming.
This is a wonderful self-help book that I want to read it again and bring it with me. The book really has a power to motivate others. It responded to all of my worries when I try to realise ideas in my mind. Indeed I feel myself became more creative when I finished this book.
Dec 26, 2011
Carl King
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
creative-career-books
This is a classic. I don't know what else to say, but definitely read this if you intend to have a creative career.
I re-read it every few years. It makes me feel centered and is a wellspring of great ideas.
This book was included in my book: The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. www.100bestbiz.com
Good insights on creative thinking esp if you work for a dull conservative organization.
Second read for me. Still a great book to challenge those tired old thought processes.
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“It's difficult to get your creative juices flowing if you're always being practical, following rules, afraid to make mistakes, not looking into outside areas, or under the influence of any of the other mental locks.”
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2 people liked it
“Flexibility is a requirement for survival.”
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2 people liked it
More quotes…
Oct 12, 2012 01:01pm