This internationally known bestseller encourages the habit of lateral thinking to generate new ideas.
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Feb 04, 2011
To me, the crux of this book might be summed up in an epigram that appears in the book. I don't remember it exactly, but the basic premise is that logic can dig a very deep hole--but you won't strike water until you use lateral thinking to decide where to PUT the hole.
It reminds me of my experiences with school systems that encourage rote learning. When I first went to such a school, I was extremely impressed by how quickly and thoroughly most of the students were able to memorize More...
It reminds me of my experiences with school systems that encourage rote learning. When I first went to such a school, I was extremely impressed by how quickly and thoroughly most of the students were able to memorize More...
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Apr 18, 2010
Kendy
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Best book on exploring the way we think. Very usefull in making one conscious of the thinking patterns followed and how to brake away from a stalled thinking pattern to see a problem different and to come up with possible solutions.
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May 12, 2008
I've always wanted to improve my lateral thinking skills. I guess some childish part of me was hoping for instant gratification, read this book and bing! you're a lateral thinker. Of course not. It's something you need to work on everyday, even for 5 minutes a day (add that to the list of things you should be doing everyday even for five minutes, stretching, meditating, napping, etc). I guess the book was OK, got a little bored wading through the exercises [these are suggestions for a tacher
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Apr 18, 2010
Murray
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This book starts with a dilemma faced by a pretty merchant's daughter confronted by her father's nasty creditor. The creditor says he will settle the issue with a game of chance. Where they stand are white and black stones. he will put two stones in a bag and she will draw one out. A white stone means the debt is settled, a black stone means the debt is settled but she must marry the money-lender. Our heroine notices that the money lender puts two black stones in the bag. So whatever she chooses
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Apr 18, 2010
Tony
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de Bono has been writing for decades about how to understand creativity, the eureka moment, the literary, artistic and scientific breakthrough, through the notion of lateral versus linear thinking, seen through the lens of neuroscience and the structure of memory and of linguistic categorization. I found the book to be a fascinating analysis of techniques that I use every day in my creative writing workshops and in my own writing practice. This particular book, as compared, for example, to The
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Nov 16, 2011
Cazna
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I poured over this for the past few months and renewed it at the library numerous times. I think that I would rather have had it taught to me as is refferred in the book. But non the less some practical idea's that I have already put to use in my every day life.
Sep 28, 2011
Benjamin
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A masterwork. De Bono gives revolutionary tools to assist in the creative process.
This should be mandatory reading for every member of society. It's wisdom will help with idea generation for everyone, from stay-at-home mothers, to PhD candidates.
This should be mandatory reading for every member of society. It's wisdom will help with idea generation for everyone, from stay-at-home mothers, to PhD candidates.
Aug 28, 2011
Huda
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An interesting take on how to approach a problem, a somewhat boring introduction, but once you get past that and manage to actually "read" the book then it is a wonderful tool to stimulate creativity and look at things from different perspectives
Jun 04, 2011
Tracy Elizabeth
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Required for my Concepts and Storyboards class (motion graphics minor)... I'm really enjoying it but it seems a little repetitive... or maybe I'm just getting lost and having to reread paragraphs... yeah... that's probably it.
Nov 11, 2011
Lynda
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First book I read by De Bono. I liked it, but did not feel it answered the questions I had. It took many years and many books to get all my questions answered and plant new questions in their place.
Aug 04, 2010
Vijaysrj
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Edward de buno is a genius on creativity and lateral thinking techniques.I came across this book in my college days and since then become a fan of his books.Gives a new perspective to view things
Aug 26, 2011
Lucy
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Well it may have been cutting edge in its day, but today it creaks - his methods of thinking now seem as proscriptive as vertical thinking. What a long way we have come in 40 years! And the incidental casual ageism and sexism aren't even quaint, just uncomfortable.
Dec 23, 2010
Richard N.
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Eh - nothing too terribly new to me, but a good repackage of some sound advice. Not sure about the almost annoying push for 'po' though I do appreciate the intentions.
Apr 17, 2011
Sebastian
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Creativity and Lateral Thinking are useful techniques to design solutions. I have read, learnt and used the ideas given in this book.
Jan 05, 2011
Enkhtuvshin
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Must read book for thinkers and creatives :)
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Jul 20, 2010
Renato
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Interesting book, offering some processes to generate ideas and solve problems.
To me, the main point of the book is to see problems and solutions as patterns, so after you recognize a pattern you can break/rearrange to form new patterns (or new solutions).
The author argues that ideas should not be discarded, no matter how ridiculous they seem. Even the most outrageous ideas can provide insights about a problem. It's not important to be right all along the problem solving proc More...
To me, the main point of the book is to see problems and solutions as patterns, so after you recognize a pattern you can break/rearrange to form new patterns (or new solutions).
The author argues that ideas should not be discarded, no matter how ridiculous they seem. Even the most outrageous ideas can provide insights about a problem. It's not important to be right all along the problem solving proc More...
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Sep 25, 2008
J Aslan
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This book initially appealed to my pop science sensibilities and the first chapter was interesting enough to pique my curiosity further. The more De Bono developed his theory, however, the more tangled up he got with his 'T unit' analogy. He could have conveyed far more by using more tangiable explanations and once the reader reaches example 46 creating yet another rectangle with said 'T units' using lateral thinking realisation strikes that this book is going to be nothing other than a crashi
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Feb 09, 2011
Rae
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As ever, fantastic ideas from De Bono, however, reading this book in one sitting was a mistake. It should be used as reference, which is exactly how De Bono explains it should be used..wise words, as always. EVERY school should use this book.
Aug 03, 2007
Amiruddin
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Reading Notes :
1 the way mind works
2 difference between lateral and vertical thinking
3 attitudes towards lateral thinking
4 basic nature of lateral thinking
5 the use of lateral thinking
6 techniques
7
8 generation of alternatives
9 innovation
10
11
12 dominant ideas and crucial factors
13 fractionation
14 reversal method
1 the way mind works
2 difference between lateral and vertical thinking
3 attitudes towards lateral thinking
4 basic nature of lateral thinking
5 the use of lateral thinking
6 techniques
7
8 generation of alternatives
9 innovation
10
11
12 dominant ideas and crucial factors
13 fractionation
14 reversal method
Feb 22, 2011
Widgets
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Recommended by Stefan Sagmeister as a resource for learning to think creatively. Very unusual collection of exercises to jog the brain out of old habits.
Apr 18, 2010
Abe
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The basis of Edward De bonos theory of thinking 'lateral' or in essense, more broadly. This was one of the first of Edward De bono's books that I read. Great read. In his efforts to explain complex theorys, he uses insightful abstract comparisons that his theorys have with tangible objects. Love it
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Jan 29, 2012
Una cosa che da sempre mi affascina pur rimanendo ad oggi misteriosa è come riuscire a riempire 176 pagine di parole per esprimere un unico, semplice, misero concetto (peraltro di per sè interessante, ma trattato in una maniera talmente divulgativa da rasentare la prostituzione).
May 14, 2010
dario
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Buenísimo para no caer en lugares comunes. Un manual para repensar todo. O como siempre digo. Tenemos demasiado pensamiento vertical, occidental, cristiano, aristotélico.
La apuesta es tomar "detours", incluso para muchas decisiones de vida...
postdata, no es manual de autoayuda!
La apuesta es tomar "detours", incluso para muchas decisiones de vida...
postdata, no es manual de autoayuda!
Apr 18, 2010
Jason
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Some great tips to help improve your creative process, and make it consistently productive. Includes a fair number of abstract examples as well as specific exercises suitable for classroom use.
Apr 18, 2010
Taibah
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Another old book. Small book that helps those who wants to see things differently. several puzzles I found in the books are cool. Read it yourself. Other de Bono's works are also worth reading
May 08, 2010
Ravimohanv
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A new way of looking at the thinking process.A thought provoking book.
