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Rethink the Way You Think In hindsight, every great idea seems obvious. But how can you be the person who comes up with those ideas? In this revised and expanded edition of his groundbreaking Thinkertoys, creativity expert Michael Michalko reveals life-changing tools that will help you think like a genius. From the linear to the intuitive, this comprehensive handbook detai Rethink the Way You Think In hindsight, every great idea seems obvious. But how can you be the person who comes up with those ideas?
In this revised and expanded edition of his groundbreaking Thinkertoys, creativity expert Michael Michalko reveals life-changing tools that will help you think like a genius. From the linear to the intuitive, this comprehensive handbook details ingenious creative-thinking techniques for approaching problems in unconventional ways. Through fun and thought-provoking exercises, you’ll learn how to create original ideas that will improve your personal life and your business life. Michalko’s techniques show you how to look at the same information as everyone else and see something different. With hundreds of hints, tricks, tips, tales, and puzzles, Thinkertoys will open your mind to a world of innovative solutions to everyday and not-so-everyday problems. Do you need any new ideas for practical designs? How about when something is wrong with your business and you cannot put your finger on it?
In any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, or otherwise, without prior notice of. Author: Michael Michalko. The techniques discussed in this book are divided into linear techniques, which. Control is what freezes thinking and what prevents the free play of thought in. Jun 28, 2006. The Paperback of the Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques by Michael Michalko at Barnes & Noble. FREE Shipping on $25 or more!
Did you ever need to brainstorm but not have anyone else around? Have you ever been stuck with writer’s block and for the life of you could not get back to work? In other words, have you ever been stuck with any mental problem that you felt that you cannot solve?
If this is the case I think you should have a look at Michael Michalko’s latest book, Thinkertoy Do you need any new ideas for practical designs? How about when something is wrong with your business and you cannot put your finger on it? Did you ever need to brainstorm but not have anyone else around? Have you ever been stuck with writer’s block and for the life of you could not get back to work? In other words, have you ever been stuck with any mental problem that you felt that you cannot solve? If this is the case I think you should have a look at Michael Michalko’s latest book, Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques. Thinkertoys is a great play on words – anyone who grew up in the United States playing with Tinker Toys would not have a hard time remembering the name of this book.
But beyond the title, Michael Michalko has done better than a yeoman’s job of cataloguing tried and true techniques and exercises that work individually and for groups. Not a left brained person you say? You don’t need to be. Not a right brained person? Again, you don’t need to be.
These tools that Michael Michalko provides puts you in a position that the outcome will be the product of great creative thinking as long as you actually do the thinker work that goes along with the exercise. The entire book pushes the reader to think outside of his or her comfort zone when solving problems, creating ideas, etc. Some of these tools I have already been working on and implementing myself. Let me give you an example In addition to my other work I recently have become a monthly columnist with a magazine where I give advice based upon my knowledge and experience. But to be a columnist is very difficult in a way because you have to remain fresh – the material much be both focused and new every issue.
Many regular columnists (and bloggers) use different methods to do this. For instance, Jack Welch actually goes on Twitter and asks followers to send him interesting questions or problems. As such I turned to Michalko’s book and found an exercise that really helped to generate ideas for the column. (If you want to know specifically which tool this was contact me through my website and I will give a full explanation).
Because of this tool though I not only found enough ideas, but rather more than enough ideas. I have now written several columns in advance for the magazine and am pretty much finished with the entire year’s work. This is the kind of result you can get from sitting down and working with Thinkertoys – I can personally attest! Also, Michael Michalko has a related product called Thinkpak: A Brainstorming Card Deck.
I went out to my local bookstore and bought this card set. It is a great companion to Thinkertoys because each card is directly related to a principle or tool in Thinkertoys. So I carry this card deck with me now along with a list of issues I need to resolve when I travel. Sometimes I pull this book or these cards out because I have work to do and sometimes I do it because, dammit, it is just a good workout for the old noggin!
This book intrigued me, as I'm always interested in ways to amp up creativity. I was happy to find that, in my own peculiar ways, I already practice many (though not all) of the methods mentioned in this book. I can't recall anyone teaching me these methods, they are just little habits that I picked up here and there in the course of learning how to write fiction. I'm amazed to learn that some of my creative methods, which I always thought of as rather quirky, are for real. What does that mean? This book intrigued me, as I'm always interested in ways to amp up creativity. I was happy to find that, in my own peculiar ways, I already practice many (though not all) of the methods mentioned in this book.
I can't recall anyone teaching me these methods, they are just little habits that I picked up here and there in the course of learning how to write fiction. I'm amazed to learn that some of my creative methods, which I always thought of as rather quirky, are for real. What does that mean? That some creative methods are commonplace? That people who are more self aware than I am have been able to document and develop these practices? That I should have written about them before someone else did?
Not sure what to think. I just know what works for me. I was more interested in the methods than in the 'intuitive' practices mentioned the book. To me, 'try this method' is more helpful than 'work on developing this attribute.' Maybe that's just me. Other things I liked about this book: It seems to be applicable to many different contexts.
It includes many different approaches, which seems to honor the idea that people have strengths and weaknesses. The examples and stories are interesting. Admittedly, I have not read very widely in the realm of creative methods, so I can't speak to how ground-breaking this book is. All I can say is that I found this book to be practical, enjoyable, and engaging. If you want to create ideas like a chicken creates eggs, read one A lot of powerful and simple tools based on science help us generate ideas to solve any problem. Something new, something old and one of the best ways I have learned is 'fulcrum'.
Easy to understand and apply it - Write down our challenges or problems - Choosing any 'fulcrum' to leverage ideas - List things relevant to 'fulcrum' - Connect or link the challenges or problems with things we listed one by one Done! Thick book, take t Great book. If you want to create ideas like a chicken creates eggs, read one A lot of powerful and simple tools based on science help us generate ideas to solve any problem.
Something new, something old and one of the best ways I have learned is 'fulcrum'. Easy to understand and apply it - Write down our challenges or problems - Choosing any 'fulcrum' to leverage ideas - List things relevant to 'fulcrum' - Connect or link the challenges or problems with things we listed one by one Done! Thick book, take time, but it's worth to read. I definitely recommend this book.
It is full of how to's for any kind of problem you might have. However, it does a very a good job to make one understand the 'why' in a very subtle way by using lots of analogies and stories. It is quite easy to read and apply.
So, I definitely suggest trying to apply what you've just read even though you have nothing specific to solve. If that's the case choose any of the biggest problems the world has in common.
Maybe you'll come up with a great sol I definitely recommend this book. It is full of how to's for any kind of problem you might have. However, it does a very a good job to make one understand the 'why' in a very subtle way by using lots of analogies and stories. It is quite easy to read and apply. So, I definitely suggest trying to apply what you've just read even though you have nothing specific to solve. If that's the case choose any of the biggest problems the world has in common. Maybe you'll come up with a great solution.
If that sounds too far fetching to you then you really have to read this book. A very shallow summary Creativity, as is everything, depends on your perception; of yourself, of things happening and of the world.
If you believe and act like you're creative and use the tools with a faith in the process then you'll be creative. It is all you need. Zimbra Network Edition Keygen Generator.
Rest will follow. Trust in the process. It's not about the quality but the quantity. Produce as many ideas as you can. Don't care about them being smart even related.
Writing is gold. Always write. Keep pen and paper cloee to yourself at all times. Otherwise you'll forget. Divide and conquer your problems. Pick the most important parts.
Don't attack the whole if it's too big. Be relaxed and positive. Friendly sarcasm helps to f friends can take it, knows why and can contribute. Consistency is unimportant. Change your mind if you're convinced.
Sleep on it if you're stuck. Mind still works to solve problems while you're asleep.
And in ways you never can achieve while awake. Analogies help a lot.
It's all about perception. If you can't change something then change how you look at it. That it can even be yourself. This book is a gem. You would think that this guide would give typical, abstract advice about how to write down ideas in your journal and talk with others about your issues to gain insight.
However, this book does more than just that. The authors provide you an enormous list of ideas, real-life examples, exercises, and explanations about their applications. In the end, it's up to you which one you think is the most useful for your situation. Basically, Thinker Toys are highly useful for whenever This book is a gem. You would think that this guide would give typical, abstract advice about how to write down ideas in your journal and talk with others about your issues to gain insight. However, this book does more than just that. The authors provide you an enormous list of ideas, real-life examples, exercises, and explanations about their applications.
In the end, it's up to you which one you think is the most useful for your situation. Basically, Thinker Toys are highly useful for whenever you're stuck in a rut, and don't know how to come up with an innovative solution to a business problem (or heck, any problem for that matter). Even the creative thinking ideas in the book are themselves creative (e.g. Cherry split, etc.). I can see myself using them very often in the near future, both in school AND in my future profession as a user experience designer. It started out okay with what for me was a review of methods I had previously been exposed to and I hoped to get something new out of it.
But, he just kept rehashing the same things in more and more convoluted ways and the whole thing devolved into something so tedious and boring that I am surprised that I endured to the end. And, when did Lao Tzu become the guru of business strategy?
It is going to take a while to get the bad taste out of my head. Virtually worthless. Tell your boss how wonderf It started out okay with what for me was a review of methods I had previously been exposed to and I hoped to get something new out of it. But, he just kept rehashing the same things in more and more convoluted ways and the whole thing devolved into something so tedious and boring that I am surprised that I endured to the end. And, when did Lao Tzu become the guru of business strategy?
It is going to take a while to get the bad taste out of my head. Virtually worthless.
Tell your boss how wonderful it is and get her out of your hair for a few days. This reads like a very entertaining textbook on creative thinking techniques. Tt is comforting that creative thinking can indeed be 'acquired' if one is not born with an aptitude for it, and the meat of the book lies in actually putting these to practice. It is designed well that one does not need to read it front to back. I had great fun skipping from one method of thinking to the next, and since I read it at a time when I had no avenues to practice it, I now know where to come back for tips wh This reads like a very entertaining textbook on creative thinking techniques. Tt is comforting that creative thinking can indeed be 'acquired' if one is not born with an aptitude for it, and the meat of the book lies in actually putting these to practice.
It is designed well that one does not need to read it front to back. I had great fun skipping from one method of thinking to the next, and since I read it at a time when I had no avenues to practice it, I now know where to come back for tips when I need them:). I decide to bought this book since my definition of 'creative' change. Back then (when I was a student) I thought it's some fabulous stuff that artist-type people do, create something that no one understand, and doesn't really have anything to do for me (as a future accountant) anyway. But after some years of work life, it change completely. Creative is something much more essential, and it attach closely to productivity. With the same resource, in order to replace that outdated working process, I decide to bought this book since my definition of 'creative' change.
Back then (when I was a student) I thought it's some fabulous stuff that artist-type people do, create something that no one understand, and doesn't really have anything to do for me (as a future accountant) anyway. But after some years of work life, it change completely. Creative is something much more essential, and it attach closely to productivity. With the same resource, in order to replace that outdated working process, extract data from that database faster, calculate those number more accurately, or evade tax reduce cost of production, you must change the way you think. Forget what you had been taught, think from different perspectives, change the question, find another way, come up with new idea. And that what I now call 'creative'. If you agree with me, then you will like this book.
Very practical, very detailed, not some 'just close your eyes and idea will pop up from nowhere like a bulb' (actually that 1 of those tricks, but you know what I mean). A lot of tricks, and then a lot more of tricks, on how to think. You probably won't need all that now, but doesn't matter. Now you know about it, you can always come back for reference later, should the situation require. I give 4 stars because the examples on the book are heavily base on business idea, how to sell more, how to advertise better, how to come up with new product. So it doesn't interest me. But maybe you will.
My intention to read this book was to understand how to go through the brainstorming process alone and overcome creative blocks. I personally felt that ideation was more conducive in teams. My suggestion when you read this book is to go read it with an open mind. A lot of times, we become complacent with our thought process, and maybe the little details could lead us to bigger, better ideas. Even while reading the book, I felt at times, that these things have already been formally taught to me a My intention to read this book was to understand how to go through the brainstorming process alone and overcome creative blocks. I personally felt that ideation was more conducive in teams. My suggestion when you read this book is to go read it with an open mind.
A lot of times, we become complacent with our thought process, and maybe the little details could lead us to bigger, better ideas. Even while reading the book, I felt at times, that these things have already been formally taught to me and I might as well skip the chapters, but going through it thoroughly helped, and I can certainly say that I've improvised. Ever come up with an idea that just made you shiver in giddy excitement? I'm talking 'hair-on-the-back-of-the-neck' type 'whoa!' Give the brainstorming methods of this magnificent gem a chance and I can assure you this will be a part of your life. I've been able to find a spattering of brainstorming methods on the internet.
Heck, I even made a couple of my own. However, I was never really satisfied in that no single reference point occupied a dedicated space in my library. Nothing seemed Ever come up with an idea that just made you shiver in giddy excitement? I'm talking 'hair-on-the-back-of-the-neck' type 'whoa!'
Give the brainstorming methods of this magnificent gem a chance and I can assure you this will be a part of your life. I've been able to find a spattering of brainstorming methods on the internet. Heck, I even made a couple of my own. However, I was never really satisfied in that no single reference point occupied a dedicated space in my library. Nothing seemed worth it.
Let's just say that this is no longer the case. Thinkertoys is a tool that any person, creative or 'not', can use and *will* produce usable results. An honest attempt at the exercises is necessary - you can't go becoming a body-builder just by picking up a weight one time now can you?
This book will take some time to go through if you take your time but it's worth the effort. Add this to your library, tab/flag the Thinkertoy 'blueprints', and proceed to have a great innovation tool by your side at all times. This book makes my unconscious mind shout for joy. For that, Mr.
Michalko, I thank you many times over. ============================== Recommend to anyone who is (or is not) creative, anyone looking for a metric 'butt-ton' of idea generators, and anyone who would like to understand the mind a bit more. ============================== This is one of the rare books I actually paid full (discounted) price on Amazon.
And it's worth every penny. Made a blog post about it, too! I've actually started to enjoy this book after the first 300 pages, and the book itself is slightly over 400 in its Russian translation.
First half of the book seemed quite boring, the repetitiveness of the examples the author gives and the inappropriate drawings were throwing me off most of the time. There's also quite a few factual mistakes, for example the author is trying to suggest that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak actually used a graph matrix to predict the usage of the personal computers I've actually started to enjoy this book after the first 300 pages, and the book itself is slightly over 400 in its Russian translation. First half of the book seemed quite boring, the repetitiveness of the examples the author gives and the inappropriate drawings were throwing me off most of the time. There's also quite a few factual mistakes, for example the author is trying to suggest that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak actually used a graph matrix to predict the usage of the personal computers in the future, which is laughable. I was seriously considering stopping after the first 200 pages but then somewhere in the middle the book started making sense and that I actually ended up enjoying the whole read and taking quite a few concepts from the book. I would still suggest that this book has too many pages.
The whole manuscript could've easily fit into 250 300 pages. I would suggest reading this book to anyone who is looking for recharging their creativity sources, in the end you never know if you might get a bingo after a certain chapter. This book was an incredible read! I don't think I've ever created so many novel ideas for one problem and seen things from so many different angles then after reading this book.
The exercises, the stories, the examples all these things work to help the reader create some pretty impressive ideas and insights into challenges they face. No longer does one have to be predictable, attacking a problem in a linear textbook like way, with this book one can really implement some brilliant ideas! This boo This book was an incredible read! I don't think I've ever created so many novel ideas for one problem and seen things from so many different angles then after reading this book. The exercises, the stories, the examples all these things work to help the reader create some pretty impressive ideas and insights into challenges they face.
No longer does one have to be predictable, attacking a problem in a linear textbook like way, with this book one can really implement some brilliant ideas! This book is recommended for everyone who desires to become creative and either lost it or thought they never could be. The book is smartly divided into 3 Parts: Linear/Rational - Intuitive/Irrational - Group Dialog.
I used the first 2 groups and was very glad to see it worked, I've yet to use the Group Dialog part but if the last part is anything like the first 2 Parts then this book is a must have all the more! I borrowed this book so had to read through it quickly but I would strongly advise against people from doing it.
Like the author says, you should read about each toy and spend time thinking through it and apply it in your life to generate ideas and spark up your creativity. This is a wonderful book on creativity and idea generation with detailed samples and ways to apply each thinkertoy. It truly questions your perception and help you see through your flaws and makes you reframe your mental model I borrowed this book so had to read through it quickly but I would strongly advise against people from doing it. Like the author says, you should read about each toy and spend time thinking through it and apply it in your life to generate ideas and spark up your creativity. This is a wonderful book on creativity and idea generation with detailed samples and ways to apply each thinkertoy. It truly questions your perception and help you see through your flaws and makes you reframe your mental model.
I've just studied organisational learning and I think see many relations between that subject and the concepts that appear in this book. To make the ideas work you need to suspend judgement and preconception and sometimes you need to apply relearning (e.g. Forgetting how things were done before) to see how the new ideas can fit with your business strategy. Stuck in the same rut of thinking creatively? Working on a project with a team that can benefit from thinking out of the box?
Want to up the ante on your own creativity? Then this book is for you! Kudos to Micheal Michalko for putting together this incredibly useful and practical book on creative thinking. Exercises inside the book are easy to implement and practical for helping you to solve problems or issues in creative ways.
I have used this many times in presentations, group brainstorming or Stuck in the same rut of thinking creatively? Working on a project with a team that can benefit from thinking out of the box? Want to up the ante on your own creativity? Then this book is for you!
Kudos to Micheal Michalko for putting together this incredibly useful and practical book on creative thinking. Exercises inside the book are easy to implement and practical for helping you to solve problems or issues in creative ways. I have used this many times in presentations, group brainstorming or just working on my own projects. I should point out the critical thinking and creative thinking are not the same. This book is great for unleashing innovation. Very complete catalogue of 'ideation' techniques called 'Thinkertoys'.
They includes left-brain oriented, (analytic/systematic), right-brain oriented (unconscious/dream-based) and collective techniques (brainstorming, brainwriting, etc.). It's not really a book to read from cover to cover, but a catalogue, to which we shall return when we want to use one. I like the very practical text, which includes the steps to follow for each thinkertoys in a separate panel. I recommend it those who think th Very complete catalogue of 'ideation' techniques called 'Thinkertoys'. They includes left-brain oriented, (analytic/systematic), right-brain oriented (unconscious/dream-based) and collective techniques (brainstorming, brainwriting, etc.). It's not really a book to read from cover to cover, but a catalogue, to which we shall return when we want to use one. I like the very practical text, which includes the steps to follow for each thinkertoys in a separate panel.
I recommend it those who think they are not creative. Same info as 5-Star Mind (lack of originality in creativity ideas?), but much better presentation.
Instead of text interrupted with brain-teasers that don't seem to have a point, Thinkertoys presents a single brainteaser at the start of some of the chapters, explains why most people don't 'get it', and presents a step-by-step approach to incorporating creative approaches that would overcome such mental stumbling blocks. 4 stars instead of 5 for the wordiness, and because it doesn't appear to assu Same info as 5-Star Mind (lack of originality in creativity ideas?), but much better presentation.
Instead of text interrupted with brain-teasers that don't seem to have a point, Thinkertoys presents a single brainteaser at the start of some of the chapters, explains why most people don't 'get it', and presents a step-by-step approach to incorporating creative approaches that would overcome such mental stumbling blocks. 4 stars instead of 5 for the wordiness, and because it doesn't appear to assume the reader is particularly intelligent. Michael Michalko is one of the most highly acclaimed creativity experts in the world. As an officer in the U.S. Army, Michael organized a team of NATO intelligence specialists and international academics in Frankfurt, Germany, to research, collect, and categorize all known inventive-thinking methods. His team applied the methods to various NATO military, political, and social problems and produced Michael Michalko is one of the most highly acclaimed creativity experts in the world.
As an officer in the U.S. Army, Michael organized a team of NATO intelligence specialists and international academics in Frankfurt, Germany, to research, collect, and categorize all known inventive-thinking methods. His team applied the methods to various NATO military, political, and social problems and produced a variety of breakthrough ideas and creative solutions to new and old problems.
Michael later applied these creative-thinking techniques to problems in the corporate world with outstanding successes. The companies he worked with were thrilled with the breakthrough results they achieved, and Michael has since been in the business of developing and teaching creative-thinking workshops and seminars for corporate clients around the world. He is the author of the best-seller THINKERTOYS: A HANDBOOK OF CREATIVE THINKING TECHNIQUES.
He is also the author of Thinkpak (A Brainstorming Card Set), which is a novel creative-thinking tool that is designed to facilitate brainstorming sessions, and Cracking Creativity (The Secrets of Creative Geniuses)which describes the common thinking strategies creative geniuses have used in the sciences, art, and industry throughout history and shows how we can apply them to become more creative in our business and personal lives.