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2nd out of 10 books
—
9 voters
The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures
by
Dan Roam
A bold new way to tackle tough business problems�even if you draw like a second grader
When Herb Kelleher was brainstorming about how to beat the traditional hub-and- spoke airlines, he grabbed a bar napkin and a pen. Three dots to represent Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Three arrows to show direct flights. Problem solved, and the picture made it easy to sell Southwes...more
When Herb Kelleher was brainstorming about how to beat the traditional hub-and- spoke airlines, he grabbed a bar napkin and a pen. Three dots to represent Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Three arrows to show direct flights. Problem solved, and the picture made it easy to sell Southwes...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
March 13th 2008
by Portfolio Hardcover
(first published 2008)
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Yes, you should read this book. The content is excellent and useful. If you have any desire to be a better problem solver or a better communicator, then I believe you will find this book useful. Especially if you are in any sort of leadership role.
Stylistically, Dan writes as if he is speaking; a trait that seems to prevail among many author who are also speakers. That got in a way a few times, but it was a small annoyance.
Stylistically, Dan writes as if he is speaking; a trait that seems to prevail among many author who are also speakers. That got in a way a few times, but it was a small annoyance.
After nine and a half weeks of study hall, pacing myself through this novel, I have decided that The Back of the Napkin truly is inventive and ingenious; however, that is just the problem. For instance, the first few pages display quirky diagrams and innovative styles of thinking such as the near-to-train-wreck as a fill-in for Roam's colleague, and then, zooming through to the end, Roam covers the science aspect, writing about how the human eye calculates different perspectives in a matter of m...more
“The Back of the Napkin” von Dan Roam war eigentlich ein Pflichtkauf. Ich bin seit langem Fan von seinem Blog, der immer für viele, viele tolle Visualisierungen und Anschauungsmaterialien gut ist. Sein Buch beschäftigt sich indes mit genau diesem Thema: “Probleme lösen und Ideen verkaufen mit Hilfe von Bildern”.
Im Buch wird, nach einer kurzen Einleitung, zunächst einmal das Grundgerüst vorgestellt: was ist Visualisierung? Warum funktioniert Vsualisierung? Wie kann ICH Visualisierungen erstellen?...more
Im Buch wird, nach einer kurzen Einleitung, zunächst einmal das Grundgerüst vorgestellt: was ist Visualisierung? Warum funktioniert Vsualisierung? Wie kann ICH Visualisierungen erstellen?...more
A third of the way through this book, I was afraid that it would be nothing more than another "here's how to present information graphically: you have hue, intensity, etc. to work with" beginner book on design. I've read several and they have completely failed to stick.
But now I'm 80% of the way through and I see this book is not that at all. Instead, it's a way of tackling difficult problems by creating the "picture worth a thousand words" that gets your point across. The author tells you to lo...more
But now I'm 80% of the way through and I see this book is not that at all. Instead, it's a way of tackling difficult problems by creating the "picture worth a thousand words" that gets your point across. The author tells you to lo...more
I read The Back of the Napkin (Expanded Edition) on my Amazon Kindle Basic. While I love to read books on my Kindle, I would have to say that charts and most pictures are basically lost when using the Kindle. That being said, I have to say I enjoyed the book.
This book takes the reader on a little journey. Dan Roam shows us how he came up with the concept of using simple, basic, pictures drawn by hand to illustrate the concepts he was wishing to convey to his audiences.
Our author gives us severa...more
This book takes the reader on a little journey. Dan Roam shows us how he came up with the concept of using simple, basic, pictures drawn by hand to illustrate the concepts he was wishing to convey to his audiences.
Our author gives us severa...more
الكاتب كتابته سلسة جدا و ممتعة. و تنسيق الكتاب نفسه جذاب لا يتسم بالرتابة المملة التي يتصف بها القالب التقليدي للكتب. تعلمت الكثير، و أظن أن الأفكار التي وردت في الكتاب يكمن جمالها في قابلية تطبيقها في مختلف المجالات و الأمور. يمكن فهمها على أنها منظار عملي لمعالجة الظروف الحياتية، بشكل عام، من خلاله.
أعجبتني كثيرا فكرة أن أي مشكلة أو ظرف يمكن حلها من منظور "الست أسئلة": 1. من و ماذا. 2. كم. 3. متى. 4. أين. 5. كيف. 6. لمَ.
هي فكرة بسيطة إن تمعنا بها، لكن غالبا ما نغفل عن تطبيقها في حل المشكلات أو...more
أعجبتني كثيرا فكرة أن أي مشكلة أو ظرف يمكن حلها من منظور "الست أسئلة": 1. من و ماذا. 2. كم. 3. متى. 4. أين. 5. كيف. 6. لمَ.
هي فكرة بسيطة إن تمعنا بها، لكن غالبا ما نغفل عن تطبيقها في حل المشكلات أو...more
For a mass-market, business/professional audience, this book is surprisingly well-thought out and complex. Roam builds on a simple premise--people learn from pictures, people remember pictures, so why not draw pictures to sell ideas? That concept is simple enough and not, really, that useful. What makes this book so great, though, is that Roam is effectively able to develop a theoretical model and framework for solving problems through procedural drawing methods for developing hand-drawn picture...more
A great read for those who are more visual in our communication with others. This book does attempt to give a guide of sorts of how one can communicate his or her ideas effectively. The ideas given are fresh, and I do find them directly applicable to those who are either more suited to these kind of communication media, or for those who wants to add a little zing to their presentation. But one aspect that I do find this book lacking is the seemingly technical details that it is trying to force o...more
The concept of this book is teaching everyone -- not just artistic types -- to use images effectively for presentations and persuasion. I love the concept, and there were some awesome, quotable sections (I especially liked the difference between LOOKING and SEEING).
I think it's extremely difficult to cover this topic thoroughly and effectively in a book format. I would love to attend a live seminar by the author, as seeing him present the concepts in real time would give me a much better handle...more
I think it's extremely difficult to cover this topic thoroughly and effectively in a book format. I would love to attend a live seminar by the author, as seeing him present the concepts in real time would give me a much better handle...more
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I sat last week with an 18 page strategy document I’d created knowing I would be the only person who would actually read it (and only because I forced myself to). The first time I read the original version of this book, it was an ebook. I got the concepts, they stuck and it made a lot of sense.
This time around I bought a paper copy in the morning and spent five hours reading through it with my strategy document beside me. The result was a series of decks that broke down the primary concepts in d...more
This time around I bought a paper copy in the morning and spent five hours reading through it with my strategy document beside me. The result was a series of decks that broke down the primary concepts in d...more
When I was in business school, one of the best courses I took was taught by a statistics professor, Dr. Elizabeth Murff, on how to present quantitative information effectively in visual formats. Every class brought new, applicable knowledge and understanding as to how best to get my data-supported point across. Dr. Murff was especially good at finding real world examples to illuminate her points, such as when she showed us the data on the Challenger explosion, how NASA should have known not to l...more
There are two things I didn't really enjoy with this book. One isn't really the fault of the author as such, it's more my fault for reading it. I'm in a creative industry and read this as part of a industry bookclub I attend. I think I thought it would be more about methods of thinking visually and tips and techniques - turns out it much more aimed at management consultants and offers problems solving methods with a visual skew.
The second aspect that I didn't like was the convienience of it all...more
The second aspect that I didn't like was the convienience of it all...more
1 like · like · see review
Absolutely loved it. While the author's expertise is in business, and as such the examples relate to solving problems and selling ideas in a business context, there's no reason why these techniques couldn't be used to figure out how you and your partner can save enough money to take a trip next year or to explain to your friend why she should get out of her crappy relationship.
Plus, I found it fascinating to learn more about how our brains take in visual information and how it's processed, and...more
Plus, I found it fascinating to learn more about how our brains take in visual information and how it's processed, and...more
1 like · like · see review
“The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures” explores the power an image can yield as a conveyor of ideas or concepts. Although it was recommended to me as a friendly way to learn about modeling languages (a rather work related topic), its not at all a technical book. Instead it aims to convey its ideas to the general public, demystifying the use of our innate visual thinking. By a series of business stories the author describes how simple sketches over a napkin (or...more
Wow.
Mr. Roam teaches a skill that I wish I learned growing up. As a kinesthetic learner, being able to physically participate in an educational experience is crucial for me to learn. This book lays out a fantastic framework for why drawing problems and ideas is an invaluable skill. The only thing that was missing in this book in my opinion was a way to practice what Mr. Roam was teaching. Sure, the case study of the accounting software company was useful, but I need more repetition and more exe...more
Mr. Roam teaches a skill that I wish I learned growing up. As a kinesthetic learner, being able to physically participate in an educational experience is crucial for me to learn. This book lays out a fantastic framework for why drawing problems and ideas is an invaluable skill. The only thing that was missing in this book in my opinion was a way to practice what Mr. Roam was teaching. Sure, the case study of the accounting software company was useful, but I need more repetition and more exe...more
Title: The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures
Author: Dan Roam
Category: Thinking Framework/Brainstorming
Audience: Anyone who has to solve problems or convince others of their
solutions
Abstract:
In The Back of the Napkin, Dan Roam takes us step-by-step through Discovering Ideas, Developing Ideas, and Selling Ideas using a visual thinking framework. He identifies the Four Steps of Visual Thinking, describes the Six Ways of Seeing, provides a set of contrasting ways o...more
Author: Dan Roam
Category: Thinking Framework/Brainstorming
Audience: Anyone who has to solve problems or convince others of their
solutions
Abstract:
In The Back of the Napkin, Dan Roam takes us step-by-step through Discovering Ideas, Developing Ideas, and Selling Ideas using a visual thinking framework. He identifies the Four Steps of Visual Thinking, describes the Six Ways of Seeing, provides a set of contrasting ways o...more
This book is my third and final candidate for best business book I read in 2009. The first two were:
Strengths-Based Leadership
Talent is Overrated
This book resonated with me because of my current role as technology instructor. I am challenged almost daily with presenting sometimes complex concepts to design students who sometimes respond that they don't understand by stating "I'm a visual person."
This book helped me appreciate the value of telling a story with pictures and how to ask the right qu...more
Strengths-Based Leadership
Talent is Overrated
This book resonated with me because of my current role as technology instructor. I am challenged almost daily with presenting sometimes complex concepts to design students who sometimes respond that they don't understand by stating "I'm a visual person."
This book helped me appreciate the value of telling a story with pictures and how to ask the right qu...more
It's an interesting book. If you're into organizing, management, visual thinking and communicating this is worth the read. The author has a unique methodology of thinking and presenting ideas through visuals. It's definitely a book I will have to read more than once, maybe use as a reference book because after reading it, I'm still not sure if I can solve most things with only pictures, but the ideas are very interesting, and the method is actually laid out in an easy-to-follow process.
Aug 10, 2011
Abner Huertas
added it
Resolver problemas por medio de dibujos? Fue la pregunta que me realicé al ver este libro. Con este libro descubrí cuan cierto es el dicho "No juzgues un libro solo por su portada". La clave es la servilleta (su nombre en español) es un excelente libro sobre cómo resolver problemas de una forma creativa e innovadora.
Realmente te recomiendo este libro, te ayudará a ver los problemas de perspectivas diferentes, y por sobre todo como mostrar y vender ideas.......
Realmente te recomiendo este libro, te ayudará a ver los problemas de perspectivas diferentes, y por sobre todo como mostrar y vender ideas.......
Given how much time I spend at a whiteboard, I've often contemplated how to more effectively use that tool. A really well drawn diagram, particularly if it's accompanied by both a good analogy and a good example ends up hitting nearly all of the learning styles in a given room.
The Back of the Napkin was recommended to me as a really good book for how to improve whiteboard diagrams. That recommendation wasn't ill-founded. This approach gives a nicely structured system for how to diagram most comm...more
The Back of the Napkin was recommended to me as a really good book for how to improve whiteboard diagrams. That recommendation wasn't ill-founded. This approach gives a nicely structured system for how to diagram most comm...more
An excellent reminder, and some good examples for thinking with visuals. Dan has some good frameworks that will stick with me, but the book was a little more than I wanted in some ways. It's a little bit like learning a whole new process and methods. I would have preferred it to integrate better with what I already do. Still, his thinking helped clear up charts better for me, and I've also started applying it and that's got to be a good sign.
Note: It's not a book about drawing better. It's about...more
Note: It's not a book about drawing better. It's about...more
A thousand words, right?
That is what a great picture can be worth and in the book Dan Roam shows how you can become a great problem solver and have fun doing it.
I appreciate Dan's simple + flexible approach which is able to tackle an array of problems that businesses, and people, face everyday. He gives a lot of good tools (i.e. SQVID formula for presenting a problem differently), and plenty of fun examples.
You'll enjoy it.
That is what a great picture can be worth and in the book Dan Roam shows how you can become a great problem solver and have fun doing it.
I appreciate Dan's simple + flexible approach which is able to tackle an array of problems that businesses, and people, face everyday. He gives a lot of good tools (i.e. SQVID formula for presenting a problem differently), and plenty of fun examples.
You'll enjoy it.
This was an fantastic book and it should be required reading for anybody in business.
The subject is all about visual thinking (a very Lean concept) but it also provides a great framework for critical thinking. Mixing the two will provide outstanding results.
Immediate benefit I see from this book: SHORTER MEETINGS!
By making things visual, it will be easier to direct conversations to the issue SEEN in front of them (not just "stick to what I am talking about"). With visual thinking, you can have h...more
The subject is all about visual thinking (a very Lean concept) but it also provides a great framework for critical thinking. Mixing the two will provide outstanding results.
Immediate benefit I see from this book: SHORTER MEETINGS!
By making things visual, it will be easier to direct conversations to the issue SEEN in front of them (not just "stick to what I am talking about"). With visual thinking, you can have h...more
Dec 01, 2010
Mike Ogilvie
is currently reading it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
business-helpful
I'm a few chapters in at this point and so far I'm really enjoying it. Looking forward to see how all of the ideas come together.
One of the few books I've actually "read" in a while (instead of listening to audio books). Obviously, this book wouldn't be suited to audio.
I white board ideas all the time and often get stymied in conveying what I'm thinking. Hopefully this'll set me on the right path.
One of the few books I've actually "read" in a while (instead of listening to audio books). Obviously, this book wouldn't be suited to audio.
I white board ideas all the time and often get stymied in conveying what I'm thinking. Hopefully this'll set me on the right path.
Jun 04, 2008
Ozten
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
programmers artists designers biz
Recommended to Ozten by:
Patty
Shelves:
life-long-learner
You can glaze over all the business crap which gives the author content to give a good sketch of what the basics of visual communication are. It is a very different book than Robert E. Horn's "Visual Language" and I think it is a complementary book.
The author poses using the "reporters" 6 W's who/what/why etc as a guideline for thinking through diagrams. Another interesting technique that I need to try to test it is within the 6 W's he gives 5 dimensions each with a spectrum to explore a space f...more
The author poses using the "reporters" 6 W's who/what/why etc as a guideline for thinking through diagrams. Another interesting technique that I need to try to test it is within the 6 W's he gives 5 dimensions each with a spectrum to explore a space f...more
Jul 25, 2011
Bob Wasserman
added it
Very well done - if you're the type of person who only reads business books every once in a while, this is one to spend time on. Actually, even if you're so good at what you do you NEVER spend time reading a business book you should make the time for this one.
As someone who's prepared and delivered thousands of presentations over the years this is the clearest, most practical advice I've seen for how to think through what you're trying to say AND how to deliver the message.
As someone who's prepared and delivered thousands of presentations over the years this is the clearest, most practical advice I've seen for how to think through what you're trying to say AND how to deliver the message.
If you know anything at all about design, project management, presentations, or have ever ventured outside the box to solve a vexing problem, this book will be an extremely fast and not terribly informative read. I imagine some might be wowed...I have someone in mind to recommend it to...but the gimmick lost its appeal quickly. He should have used fewer napkins.
I somehow thought this book was going to read a bit differently. I think the concept is brilliant (always have) and know that with pictures, more ideas could be successfully exchanged, but perhaps it's because I've worked in creative fields most of my life, I got bogged down with all the science of it....I just wanted to draw some pictures (clearly, I am a Black Pen).
One of the concepts that Roam expresses throughout his book is the notion of "simple". (The section discussing "simple" and its' t...more
One of the concepts that Roam expresses throughout his book is the notion of "simple". (The section discussing "simple" and its' t...more
Apr 01, 2009
Ryan
added it
Brilliant and educational book on the power of visual thinking. Provides the background on how we process information and supplies a methodology and examples on how to explain and solve problems with visuals. I wish I was as smart as Dan Roam. If you are looking to improve your communication skills, read this book.
Reading this book make me try to draw my idea on a paper - which i rarely done it. Some time there are a lot of image on our mind but we can't explain it to our client or co-worker. This book give us a clue of how to say our idea on a simple hand-drawing. This book also give us a guidance how to solve a problem.
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“Any problem can be made clearer with a picture, and any picture can be created using the same set of tools and rules.”
—
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