Customer Reviews

How to Invent (Almost) Anything (Spiro Business Guides)

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'How To Invent (Almost) Anything' is said by some to be based around TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving developed by Russian patent officer, Genrich Altshuller, who noticed similarities in invented solutions from different fields when analysing over 200,000 patents. But in fact this title goes much wider than that.

What the authors have done is explain to the poor benighted heathen (me) just what it takes to accurately identify, itemise and assess the resources and functionality of any creative act, product or 'solution'. Which ain't easy.

David Straker - who's started out as an electronic engineer - and Graham Rawlinson - psychologist and innovation consultant - have broken this book down into four 'toolboxes': logical, scientific, psychological and holistic. By adopting this device they have created a structural framework within which all things can be explained, developed, adapted, exposed or applied - IF you work at it.

If you don't, of course, they can't - it's as simple as that.

But this book is fun, as well. What was it Einstein said: Imagination is more important than knowledge?

The authors start off with the former and lead you kicking and screaming to the latter.

Wonderful.

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This book is all about the process of Inventive Problem Solving. It has a great Seven-Step TRIZ process, as well as sections (they call them `ToolBoxes') on Psychology, Logic and a Holistic section to bring it all together.

I have taught university classes on Creative Problem Solving and Innovation. This is the best book I have found on the subject.

If you need to increase your problem solving skills, this is well worth the price.