Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step (Perennial Library) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The need for lateral thinking arises from the way the mind works..." (more)
Key Phrases: apple picking machine, cliché unit, named unit system (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The seminal book that introduced a new way of reasoning and decision making. "Dr. de Bono does not claim to be able to turn us all into Miltons, Da Vincis, and Einsteins. . . . The Muse never appears to most of us--hence the value of this book."--Times Educational Supplement

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harper Colophon (August 29, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060903252
• ISBN-13: 978-0060903251
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,984 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #28 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > By Topic > Creativity
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Why So Stupid?, March 17, 2003

By	Eric J. Lyman (Roma, Lazio Italy) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have read several of Edward de Bono's books in recent years and I enjoy his theories. Which is why I recently dished out a lot of monet for the Why So Stupid book that is supposedly his magnum opus and is available only by direct mail. And after reading it, I will report that most of what is there for a very high price is also in this book and in de Bono's Thinking Course, which can be had for around 4% of that cost -- if that isn't worth a 5-star rating, what is?

The more expensive book does illustrate a more evolved form of de Bono's theories, and they are applied in more situations (including many that are relevant to the world today). But my advice is to by this book or the Thinking Course -- both are excellent primers on de Bono's excellent ideas.

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of the greatest book that I've ever read., January 15, 1999

By	Mohammad Reza Yaesubi([e-mail]) (Tehran, Iran) - See all my reviews

This book helped me to know how we can use our thinking in more efficient ways. I have used technics that were introduced in this book and they worked very well, my B.S. thesis in Software engineering was based on this book. I Design a Web based Instructor software that teach the students Lateral thinking technics and Practical Thinkings. I used those technics during Analysis & Design of my Software and I developed those technics in my career. Lateral thinking is wonderful book that when everybody uses its technics, s/he will find great improvements in his/her life and career.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A start for continous improvement, February 10, 2004

By A Customer

"Do not limit your mind, don't assume" could be a brief summary of the book. The author has made quite a good start, explanining how new ideas could be formed and how the best looking idea may not be the best to pick up. The book would be useful for people who have been in a stable environment, a place where improvements are seen as threats so you couldn't improve most of the things. The negative side was, that there were to many repeats of the same idea through out the chapter and the book. That was a bit boring. The "PO" word is a good idea, but doesn't need that much explanation. I would recommend it for starters in continuous improvement concept.