Reviewer's Notes - David Lintner: One of the tools to use in building a life of wellbeing is creativity. The ability to think creatively provides us with exciting ways to experience life, solve problems, and connect with others in groups that have common aims. The basic principle Michalko introduces to the reader in developing creativity is conceptual blending. We have this ability as children, but as we grow, and solidify our perceptual world into mental categories, we often lose our creativity in the process.
By the practice of combining dissimilar ideas you can learn to blend concepts that result in creative results. Michalko writes, Creative thinkers form more novel combinations because the routinely conceptually blend objects, concepts, and ideas from two different contexts or categories that logical thinkers conventionally consider separate. It is the conceptual blending is dissimilar concepts that leads to original ideas and insights.
Michalko promises that he can teach you to think like a genius, and he delivers. The book is rich with examples, thought experiments and techniques that serve as guides to the creative process. I am known as a creative thinker, and can attest to the effectiveness of conceptual blending. Typically I read five or six books at the same time, each very different from one another, and the mix produces a satisfying ability to coach clients who are stuck, facilitate strategic planning meetings, and bring new ideas to whatever group I work with.
Michael Michalko is no stranger to the world of creative thinking, and is the author of several books on creativity, including Thinkertoys. Although it is an easy read, I recommend you add Creative Thinkering to your list and library.
- Publisher: New World Library; 1 edition (September 6, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 160868024X
- ISBN-13: 978-1608680245
