The Art of Thinking [Paperback]

Allen F. Harrison (Author), Robert M. Bramson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2002

What style of thinker are you?

The Synthesist: Sees likeness in apparent opposites, interested in change

The Idealist: Welcomes broad range of views, seeks ideal solutions

The Pragmatist: Seeks shortest route to payoff: “Whatever works,”

The Analyst: Seeks “one best way,” interested in scientific solutions

The Realist: Relies on facts and expert opinions, interested in concrete results

There are five basic styles of thinking, each greatly influenced by the thinker’s fundamental beliefs. It is these beliefs that limit people to thinking about things in only one way. With everyday examples, this practical and hands-on guide will show you how to unbind the mind from narrow thinking. Learning to approach situations in different ways is an invaluable life lesson. Learning to recognize others’ thinking styles can transform communication. And learning to distinguish and choose the right style of thinking for any situation is an art that can help you achieve goals, influence others, and avoid making errors—while enhancing every area of your life.

The Art of Thinking will expand your repertoire of strategies for asking questions, making decisions, getting along with people and solving problems. By learning why you think the way you do—and gaining surprising new insight into the thinking styles of others—you’ll be able to get past obstacles, turn conflict into cooperation, and enjoy more success in everyday life.

Includes a test to determine your own style of thinking.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert N. Bramson has also penned Coping with Difficult People; What Your Boss Doesn't Tell You Until It's Too Late: How to Correct Behavior that is Holding You Back; and, with Susan J. Bramson, First Hired, Last Fired: How to Make Yourself Indispensable in an Age of Downsizing, Mergers, and Restructuring.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (February 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042518322X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425183229
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and applicable, great for effectiveness and tact., March 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Thinking (Paperback)

I have extensively researched the topic thinking styles. The Meyers-Briggs, Kirsey and other type cast/thinking references are great but do not deliver as much practical and usable information as the Art of Thinking book does in my opinion. I use what I have learned from the many examples in the book on a daily basis. The concepts in the text are easily applied to working with other people and adjusting one's approach to maximize effectiveness. Where before, I could never get along with specific people, we now are productive team players.

The five thinking styles listed are very clearly defined and made identifiable. The text also explains the interaction of the differing styles and how and when to use them. The practical approach in presenting the material makes it immediately usable. There are many realworld examples that readily come to mind from the book when I am seeking an approach to an issue. The book has an excellent test in it to identify preferred thinking styles. The material in the book is presented so well and in a usable fashion that it becomes easy to read other's preferences and adjust appropriately.

For myself, the book clarified that I implement a much less common "synthesist" style of problem solving in my work with computers and technology. It also provided invaluable direction on how to use this style effectively. It has helped me direct this skill with precision and tact instead of wielding it like an awkward club. I now am held in high regard as a problem solver and in delivering solutions where others have failed or have no success. I directly attribute this finely honed skill to the reading of this book, The Art of Thinking.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a very practical reference and information source on how to be effective in your efforts with others. Sometimes we all know that we are so close to making something happen but cannot keep a handle on the real issues involving others. Well, this book is full of handles and you will never look at the issues concerning yourself and the people around you the same way.

32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Low Profile High Impact, April 21, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Adelaide Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Thinking (Paperback)

I have been an ardent student in the subject of thinking most of my life. In my extensive libary on the subject this humble looking, modest styled book is one of my most prized. The notion that thinking styles are most profoundly influenced by sets of fundamental beliefs about the way the world works allowed this approach to be infinitely more useful to me in dealing with other people than many far more publicised and popular approaches. I hope you find the content of this book the gem that I have.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pay the pocket change and buy this book!, September 18, 2004

By 

J. Layman (Inland Sea, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Thinking (Paperback)

I have recently been studying a lot of academic research related to this book's central theme (i.e., that people tend use one of a handful of relatively standard ways to think, learn, process information, etc). This book is probably the easiest to understand and the most practical of all the books on the subject. Big name academics like Jerome Bruner and other people involved in educational theory back up this book's claims and provide a better academic foundation for those who want to know. In the educational world, it is commonly taught that children fall into four catagories, called "ones", "twos", "threes", and "fours". These catagries are virtually the same as this book, except that Harrison and Bramson have subdivided the "threes" categries into two categories that they call "realists" and "pragmatists". I personally believe that there is little dispute that these catagories (be they four or five or six in number) do actually exist and do actually have a profound affect on the way human beings interact. As an undergraduate business management major, with a graduate education degree, I feel that this book (and books like it) should be required reading for all teachers and people involved in any sort of organization -- particularly the managers of people.

Harrison generally skips the academic "evidence" and jumps straight into the practical stuff that they have observed in their years of business consultations. This book is a great place to start. Ignore the cover, which I find to be rediculously low brow. While reading this, remember that there are plenty of "heavier" academic books that say the exact same thing and look more believable, but are probably less accessible to most folks.