Archimedes' Bathtub: The Art and Logic of Breakthrough Thinking [Hardcover]

David Perkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

From Archimedes' discovery of the principle of water displacement while taking a bath to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, from Brunelleschi's development of perspective drawing to the Impressionist revolution, from the taming of fire to the creation of the laser, "breakthrough thinking" -- that is, a sudden, seemingly unaccountable moment of inspiration -- has shaped and advanced civilization. But Nature invents, too -- through evolutionary watersheds like vertebrate mammals and formerly grounded creatures making the leap to flight. How, then, does breakthrough thinking really work? What, if anything, does human invention have in common with biological evolution?

In this sly tour de force of deep analysis and practical exercises, David Perkins explores the common logic behind breakthroughs across many fields, historical periods, and evolutionary epochs. Drawing on a rich knowledge of artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology, Perkins offers a uniquely integrative theory of how breakthroughs occur, along with dozens of delightful mind puzzles and illustrations that will have you quizzing whoever happens to be nearest.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The slogan of a prominent ad campaign notwithstanding, creative problem solving requires more than just the ability to "think different." Indeed, argues Perkins, codirector of the Project Zero think tank at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, breakthrough thinking "reflects not unusual things certain minds do but unusual structures certain problems have." Perkins likens these structures to the terrain of the Klondike gold fields, where a few prospectors found wealth but most failed. Unlike the "landscape of reasonable possibility space," in which thinkers can follow clues in logical order, Klondike problems present few discernable clues at the outset and offer many traps and detours in which thinkers can get stuck. Successful navigation of Klondike problems requires a store of active knowledge, the readiness to recognize useful patterns and the ability to break "mental sets," or automatic patterns of assumptions. Perkins's analysis of Klondike space and psychology, which he illustrates with puzzles, jokes, games and problems, is readable, entertaining and highly informative. However, his attempt to show Klondike thinking in computers and in evolution, though stimulating, is less fully developed. Though most of the book appears to be aimed at general readers, a few sections presuppose familiarity with such specialized fields as relativity and systems theory. But even readers who may not fully grasp how Klondike problems relate to "self-organizing criticality" will be able to enjoy this absorbing introduction to cognitive theory. Agent, Ed Barber, Sanford J. Greenberger Associates. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

David Perkins codirects the think tank "Project Zero" at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and has authored books on mind, intelligence, creativity, and learning.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393047954
• ISBN-13: 978-0393047950
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,794,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun reading, but not your puzzle book source., September 17, 2000

By 

Herve Bronnimann (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Archimedes' Bathtub: The Art and Logic of Breakthrough Thinking (Hardcover)

This book is about what the author calls breakthough thinking. If you haven't heard the idea before, it's the moment that usually comes after years of getting stuck about a problem. Usually in a snap, you figure out the solution and wonder: why didn't I think of it earlier?

Well, Perkins gives us four reasons, and reasons to think about them. Knowing them, you can change your thinking habits to incorporate them and improve your solving skills. 1. Think far and wide, explore as many and as diverse possibilities as you can. 2. When you're stuck, try to think about why you are stuck and focus on hidden clues (this is where background knowledge is useful, like Sherlock Holmes). 3. Rethink the problem in a different framework: are you assuming too much? did the problem really say it had to be this way? 4. Don't get stuck on a solution that ALMOST works; if it won't work, it's worthwile to forget it altogether and explore widely different possibilities.

Now for the critic. The book IS helpful, but if you're a mathematician (like me) you already know most of that. You may however be interested by the parallel the author draws between evolution a la Darwin, problem solving, the emergence and evolution of ideas, and the Klondike gold rush. I found the book well argumented, challenging, and fun through the sprinkle of problems (whose solution is not immediately given). But somehow I had heard these ideas before, and at the end of your reading, you may wonder if you really learned that much. The first chapter was the most interesting to me. After that, the author embarked on a dissertation on the analysis of thinking pattern that is more systematic, a little academic at times, although thought-provoking all right. Still, you'll be challenged at times, and it's a fun reading.

If you're not too good at problem-solving, or wonder why you should be, the book argues that it's really more than just a skill, it's a way of life. Assuming less, you will see hidden connections between things you do and care about, that may have nothing in common to these puzzles. But you could get your lucky break with a little practice at breakthrough thinking. In this dot.com age, there should be ample opportunities. So what are you waiting for?

A last note: if you want more puzzles like this, try the Lateral Thinking Puzzles by Paul Sloane (several books). This book is not a puzzle book. Rather, it is an analytical discussion of puzzles, and the puzzles are there only to support the discussion.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Thoughts and Puzzles, Could be a bit more Solid, January 2, 2001

By 

Fred "Technology is your friend." (CHAPEL HILL, NC, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Archimedes' Bathtub: The Art and Logic of Breakthrough Thinking (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed Mr. Perkins' theme and thoughts in this book. He did a good job of breaking down how he looks at breakthrough thinking, and outlining a good methodology for overcoming seemingly unsolvable problems. These theories are then demonstrated through several fairly quickly worked through puzzles that demonstrate how to make use of these problem solving techniques. The books is written in a fairly standard format, with the introduction outlining the 'big picture' and subsequent chapters breaking out details of Mr. Perkins problem solving approach in more detail.

I did have some concerns about the book, the most notable being its repetitious nature. It almost seems as if the author has written a guide to teaching one's self this methodology rather than a book designed to explore the subject in depth. I believe that the author could wrap up his thesis and explain the methodology in probably 1/2 of the space that he has chosen, however, instead he has stretched out the context to fill some 260 pages.

There were two academic areas that I had hoped to see a bit more of. The first was the author's brief review of the similarity in break through thinking with evolution, specifically with the theory of "punctuated equilibrium" which has long been put forth by the author's fellow Harvard Professor Mr. Stephen Jay Gould. Mr. Perkins throws out the similarity as well as a couple of other thoughts on the matter, but never really crystalizes a thesis. One would have hoped that the two professors proximity would have allowed a more mature discussion. The second, which I had hoped would have been developed, was the oddly parallel development of most of the world's major inventions. The printing press of Gutenberg and the heavier-than-aircraft of the Wright brothers were both developed amidst furious competition, as if the time of development for these inventions had finally been "right". It seems as if somewhere in this history there would be a logical point for Mr. Perkins to have developed.

Again, I liked this book, but would have hoped for some more tangible support of his theories, either through experimental results or more first-hand interpretation of historical events. Where Mr. Perkins touches on the subject he does so with a very light brush stroke, and in doing so decreases the potency of what is otherwise an interesting piece of work.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars brainy!, September 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Archimedes' Bathtub: The Art and Logic of Breakthrough Thinking (Hardcover)

What a smart book! It's fun to read and it will help you exercise your brain! If you like solving puzzles, tackle difficult hyphothetical problems, you'll love this book! It is very good on explaining all the science and math behind the intersting problems that have challenged brilliant scientists and thinkers in the past. And it is also a very nice brain-teaser! Also, the author is not only interested in showing you how other geniuses have solved their problems, but teaching you how you can do these things yourselves by applying his logical thinking steps in your life. So the book is useful and also very fun at the same time!