Thinking about thinking:

Learning how to think more effectively is not an arduous task, yet it can significantly enhance our ingenuity in problem-solving. The essence of thinking lies not in being right all the time but in being effective.

What is lateral thinking?

Lateral thinking is a process that empowers us to restructure our established patterns, expand our minds, and refrain from thinking in trite, fixed ways. It is, in essence, creativity devoid of any mystery. It is simply a means of handling information that leads to more creative results. After all, what is humor but the sudden restructuring of existing patterns? If we can introduce the unexpected element, we are no longer bound by these patterns.

Techniques of creative thinkers:

The majority of his book comprises techniques aimed at getting us into the lateral thinking mode. These include:

1. Generating alternatives

2. Challenging assumptions

3. Quotas

4. Analogies

5. Finding the dominant idea

6. Reversal thinking

7. Brainstorming

8. Suspended judgment.

One crucial point is that lateral thinkers do not feel compelled to be "right" constantly; they only strive to be effective. What truly matters is generating a sufficient number of ideas such that some may be incorrect, but others prove to be right. This approach allows for a more open and innovative way of thinking, leading to more successful problem-solving and creative outcomes.

I've been fascinated by lateral thinking puzzles and riddles for over 20 years.

My conventional way of dealing with these kinds of problems has been to consume a large number of them to acquire experience in solving them.

This book offers a more organized framework that consists of formulation, reformulation, practice, and even more formulation!

It might become a bit tiresome at times, and it's definitely not intended to be read all in one go.

However, if you're the type of person who takes notes and practices the lessons, you'll find this book enjoyable.

It provides a systematic approach that can help you enhance your lateral thinking skills and become more proficient in solving these challenging puzzles and riddles.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced enthusiast, this book has something to offer.

So, give it a try and see how it can improve your problem-solving abilities.

The best book on exploring the way we think is truly remarkable.

It is extremely useful in making one highly conscious of the thinking patterns that we follow.

Often, we are unaware of the habitual ways in which our minds operate.

This book sheds light on these patterns, enabling us to understand how they influence our perception of problems.

Moreover, it provides valuable insights into how to break away from a stalled thinking pattern.

By doing so, we can view a problem from a different perspective.

This fresh outlook allows us to come up with possible solutions that we might otherwise have overlooked.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in enhancing their thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.

Classical logic is not all-powerful and can even be harmful. Here are some practical suggestions on how to think differently.

The idea of giving up an existing pit of considerable size without having the slightest idea where to dig a new one seems unjustified and places too high demands on practical human nature. Giving up the existing pit is difficult even when the place for the new pit has already been chosen. Any oilman can probably appreciate the paradox that sitting down and thinking carefully about where to start drilling a new well can be more useful than deepening the old one. The difference here is probably that deepening a well costs money for an oilman, while stopping work is more expensive for a scientist or industrialist. Where should one direct one's meager abilities if there is no pit? The tools of logic remain idle.

In the long run, a few people moving in the right direction can bring immeasurably more benefit than all those who demonstrate achievements on the way to less valuable things. However, very few people are willing to spend their energy on a hypothetical possibility. Who in our world can afford to think leisurely? Who is able to allow themselves a fruitless thought not confirmed by direct achievements?

How can one avoid the influence of dominant ideas? The following method of lateral thinking is very useful: carefully identify, precisely define, and even write down the idea that seems dominant in a given situation. As soon as the idea is identified, it immediately becomes easier to recognize it, thereby avoiding its polarizing influence. This may seem like an obvious and simple step, but it should be done with great caution and care, as the usual vague awareness of the dominant idea will bring no benefit. The second method is to accept the dominant idea and then gradually distort it until it finally loses its integrity and collapses. The distortion can be achieved by simply pushing the idea to the extreme or by extremely exaggerating one of its features. But this should also be done very subtly and with full awareness.

It may seem easier to identify the dominant idea and then resolutely reject it. However, rejecting an idea only changes positive dominance to negative and, instead of the desired weakening of the dominant idea, may even strengthen it. Moreover, a resolute rejection of the dominant idea limits the freedom of thinking to the same extent as its recognition. In a mild form, this happens to beginning students who read a lot of philosophy books. They find themselves in a difficult position: they have to either agree with what they have read or vehemently reject everything. In any case, simple awareness of a particular idea can hinder the formation of an original idea in the mind of a person capable of independent thinking.

When Marconi increased the power and efficiency of his invention, he discovered that he could send radio waves over longer distances. As a result, he gained such confidence in his abilities that he began to think about transmitting radio signals across the Atlantic Ocean. He thought that all he needed was a powerful enough radio transmitter and a sensitive enough radio receiver. Specialists who knew more about this field laughed at his idea. They were sure that radio waves, like light rays, travel in a straight line and therefore would not curve around the Earth but simply disappear into outer space. From a logical point of view, they were completely right. However, Marconi insisted on his own, stubbornly continuing his search, and achieved success. Neither he nor the specialists knew about the existence of the ionized layer in the upper part of the atmosphere - the ionosphere - which reflects medium and short radio waves, which otherwise would indeed have been carried away into outer space, as the specialists predicted. Only the presence of this layer made radio transmission across the ocean possible. Being wrong from the point of view of the dominant system of views, Marconi achieved a result that he would never have achieved if he had been strictly logical from start to finish.

James Clerk Maxwell, one of the greatest scientific and mathematical geniuses, loved games very much. He could, in the heat of a called dinner, forget about those around him and engage in a game with tableware, a ray of light reflected from a glass, or a drop of water. Maxwell knew the value of play; as a teenager, he heard a lecture by an artist who achieved success precisely through play. This is where his scientific career began. Playing with pins and threads, Maxwell figured out how to draw ellipses with their help, and from there he came to an explanation of the laws of light reflection. At that time, he was still so young that his report at the Royal Society of Edinburgh was read on his behalf because a man in short pants could not speak from the podium. Why do children stop playing? Perhaps because the mysterious world where miracles happen turns into an ordinary world where everything has an explanation. Bored with superficial awareness, children stop playing. However, if a child is not satisfied with superficial explanations, then the world never becomes so familiar that playing with it can become boring. Perhaps it is also because play is actively not approved by logically thinking adults who are convinced of its uselessness and define adulthood as the obligation to engage in useful activities.

Another method of organizing random interaction of ideas is the well-known brainstorming. Several people who have come together to discuss a problem try to discard the usual logical prohibitions and voice everything that comes to mind: no thought can be considered too absurd or too inappropriate to be expressed. Considerable practice is needed for a person to be able to express insufficiently logical thoughts in such a discussion and refrain from criticizing what others say. The idea of the method is that mutual encouragement gives rise to a multitude of ideas, and their random interaction generates new ideas that none of the participants would have thought of on their own.

A very useful way to help the birth of new ideas is to deliberately expose oneself to a variety of stimuli by walking in a place full of things that you would not think of going to specifically. This could be a department store, an exhibition, or even a library, and it is better if the surrounding environment has no direct relation to the problem being solved. You are not deliberately looking for anything but are ready to carefully study everything that catches your attention. Sometimes it is precisely those objects that have the least to do with the matter that push the mind to give birth to new ideas. At the same time, there is no need to analyze or evaluate the importance of what you have noticed. You are in a position similar to that of a selector: everything that attracts your attention is picked up. And all this time, somewhere in the depths of consciousness, the task for which a new idea is needed is present.

Lateral thinking has a lot in common with humor. Humor is born where the most likely view of a situation is suddenly overturned by the awareness that it can be looked at differently.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

An interesting book that delves into the concepts of lateral thinking has recently caught my attention. However, it is a bit too formal and academic in its approach, which makes it a challenge to fully sustain my interest throughout. Nevertheless, there is a crucial point that I have taken away from this book.

The main lesson is to be vigilant against vertical thinking and instead strive to be creative. This involves playing with different ideas, incorporating humour, drawing on insights, and utilizing ideas or theories from various disciplines. It is essential to combine vertical and lateral thinking to achieve the best possible results.

Creating breaks from rigid thinking patterns and forming new ones is of utmost importance. Even if the new ideas may initially seem ridiculous, they could potentially lead to breakthroughs. With lateral thinking, the emphasis is on sparking ideas and exploring different pathways rather than simply focusing on the end solution. By adopting this approach, we can open ourselves up to a world of new possibilities and find innovative solutions to problems.

Worth a read, as it contains some interesting analogies and a practical method for understanding what it truly means to "think outside the box" when seeking creative alternatives or solutions that go beyond the obvious. However, some parts may seem repetitive. But considering it is designed for teaching purposes, it explores various ways to convey the same point.

As others have mentioned, the entire section on 'PO' is somewhat of a tangent. It presents an interesting concept, yet it tries to be more significant than it actually is as an idea, with quite a bit of unnecessary elaboration.

Overall, it is good, but it could benefit from an update to make it more relevant and engaging in today's context.

Lateral thinking is a crucial concept that offers a unique perspective on problem-solving and idea generation. It is not just about being creative or having insights; it is a deliberate process that goes beyond these aspects.

Lateral thinking involves looking at problems from new directions, aiming to restructure patterns and generate alternatives. The goal is to view things differently and explore every possible avenue for solutions.

Unlike vertical thinking, which is sequential and analytical, lateral thinking can make jumps and is more provocative. It allows for the generation of many approaches even after finding a promising solution, while vertical thinking stops once a good option is found.

Lateral thinking and vertical thinking are complementary. Lateral thinking is essential for generating ideas, and vertical thinking helps in developing them. Together, they can enhance the effectiveness of problem-solving and decision-making.

According to research, an average person has a large number of thoughts per day. Lateral thinking is related to how the mind handles information, using it provocatively to break down old patterns and stimulate new ones.

New ideas are always valuable, especially when old ones no longer work. Jobs in various fields demand a constant flow of new ideas, and lateral thinking provides a more deliberate way to achieve this.

There are different types of problems, and lateral thinking can be applied to each of them. By using fractionation, one can escape the limitations of fixed patterns and create a more generative situation.

In conclusion, lateral thinking is a powerful tool that can change your life for the better. With a positive approach, anyone can learn to think laterally and benefit from its many advantages.

Must Read Book for Thinkers and Creatives :)

This book is an absolute must-read for all those who consider themselves thinkers and creatives. It offers a wealth of inspiration, thought-provoking ideas, and unique perspectives that can truly expand one's mind.

The author has done an excellent job of presenting complex concepts in a simple and understandable way, making it accessible to a wide range of readers.

Whether you are looking to boost your creativity, gain new insights into the world around you, or simply expand your knowledge, this book has something for everyone.

It is filled with practical tips and strategies that you can apply immediately to your own life and work, helping you to think more deeply, innovate more effectively, and achieve greater success.

So if you are serious about taking your thinking and creativity to the next level, don't miss out on this amazing book. It is sure to become a valuable addition to your personal library and a source of inspiration for years to come.

As much as we tend to think logically and vertically in our daily lives, there are indeed moments when these traditional techniques simply fall short of effectively solving our problems.

This is where lateral thinking comes into play. The book in question provides valuable insights into what lateral thinking truly is and how, when combined with vertical thinking, it can become the most powerful tool an individual can possess for solving any problem.

It is highly advisable that this book and its concepts be introduced into our primary education system. Kids should be taught from an early age to incorporate lateral thinking into their daily lives.

This is a great book to read and understand at your own convenience. It offers practical strategies and examples that can help you expand your thinking and approach problems from different angles. So, go ahead and give it a try!

I started reading this book because on TikTok I saw how it was related to Death Note. That is, all the deduction and analysis methods used by L can be found here... However, I expected something much better. I think the hype misled me.

I won't say that the book is bad. It's just simple. It tells you things that in some way or another you think. Of course, I have also learned some things, and those same things make me ask the following: Do we really have limits or are they imposed by ourselves? Wow, the idea of thinking that there are no limits at all to achieving things seems rather optimistic to me. It causes me conflict because I am one of those who believe in limits. Although the book does not focus on talking about limits in general, but rather on finding solutions and drawing conclusions. Because look at L. Although it is a fictional story with a character based on everything this book says (according to the words of the TikTok user), he could not defeat his rival Kira. Although he had many suspicions and not a single definitive proof, and even came to know about a divine power, still he died. He did not achieve his goal because he had a limit. However, was the limit natural or did L himself put his own limits when he knew that he was facing something divine?

I love how I do an analysis of an anime to demonstrate something about a book. Well, I still believe that limits do exist and that there are also people who put their own limits. The book only goes by denying the first part in part. In the end, you have to give it your all to achieve what you want, although not everything you want is achieved

Review of a book on my blog: http://s-kalinin.blogspot.ru/2015/02/...

The book offers an intellectual map, along with information about the author and the methods of de Bono for developing creative thinking (CoRT).

In general, it is a timeless classic of self-development. The intellectual map provides a useful framework for understanding the key concepts and ideas in the book.

Learning about the author gives us insights into the inspiration and motivation behind the work.

The CoRT methods are practical and effective tools for enhancing creative thinking.

Whether you are a student, a professional, or someone interested in personal growth, this book is definitely worth reading.

It offers valuable lessons and strategies that can be applied in various aspects of life.

Overall, it is a great addition to any self-help or personal development library.