Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

by Michael Michalko (Author) "The first chapter in this section, "Original Spin," will help you overcome your fears, doubts, and uncertainties about creativity..." (more)
Key Phrases: murder board, idea box, fantasy analogy, Thomas Edison, Cherry Split, Ray Kroc (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Believe it or not, this wonderful book will have you challenging the impossible. -- Nonprofit News

The most significant book about creativity that we have seen in years. -- AMA

This book is a creative-thinking workshop in a book that will have your imagination soaring. -- Chicago Tribune

This book shows you how to do what you think can't be done. -- The Futurist

Will turn anyone into a startingly creative thinkier. This is the book this editor wishes he had written. -- CreativeMind

Product Description
THINKERTOYS will teach you how to generate new ideas for businesses, markets, sales techniques, and products and product extensions. Packed with fun and practical tools and exercises, it outlines 30 practical linear and intuitive techniques that can be used by individuals or groups to tackle and solve business problems in fresh, creative ways.

An updated edition of the best-selling business creativity book, with more than 30 brainstorming techniques and hundreds of creative-thinking tips and tricks. Revision includes new techniques, examples, and sections on group brainstorming and endgames.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; 2 edition (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580087736
• ISBN-13: 978-1580087735
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,732 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

132 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In what ways might I write this review?, June 24, 2003

By	J. Reich "trendputter" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques: FIRST EDITION (Paperback)

Cracking Creativity was the first book I read, and reviewed from Michael Michalko, and what a book! Thinkertoys is Michael's first book and my second read. I also own Thinkpack, a creative card deck. All spectacular!

In general, I would say that Thinkertoys is similar to Cracking Creativity, but Thinkertoys offers varied and many different creative techniques, "business creativity for the 90's." Michael explores artists, scientists, and numerous other creative thinkers to which seems the basis of his work. It's amazing the amount of material that was put into this book. Numerous quotes by Sun Tzu, there are also numerous diagrams and puzzles throughout this book. These mindbenders always seem to be related to the chapter, or the discussion at the time. These drawings, puzzles, and brainteasers really convey the message of what this whole book is about. That is what I like about this book is because it shows you, and you have to figure some things out.

The book is set up into 4 different parts. Part One: Linear Thinkertoys, Part Two: Intuitive Thinkertoys, Part three: Group Thinkertoys, Part Four: Endtoys. And in these areas there are numerous techniques, storylines, brainteasers, and flaming hot ideas. It's not hard to try most of the techniques. Most of them merely require a pencil, a piece of paper, a problem or an idea. Michael gives a "Blueprint" (i.e. summary) of every major technique that he covers in the chapters.

I have read other creativity books but Thinkertoys is very exceptional because it seems to me to be more proactive, I see the techniques and I immediately want to try them for myself. Thinkertoys is not just some dry language with endless paragraphs of explanation, as with some creativity books I have read. None of these other books will be mentioned here.

As I have used many of the techniques, I personally like SCAMPER. In addition, I also use "6 Questions" with SCAMPER, and I also use "In what ways might I?" I have set it up and I use like this: For example, I use SCAMPER first on a problem. If I'm stuck on SCAMPER, or the problem, I move to the "6 Questions." If I am still stuck, I then move and use "In what ways might I?" They are all interchangeable, and can be moved or reversed. See,

SCAMPER > 6 Questions > "In what ways might I?"

A powerful combination: SCAMPER
S = Substitute?
C = Create?
A = Add?
M = Modify
P = Put to other uses?
E = Eliminate?
R = Rearrange or Reverse?

6 Questions
Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

In what ways might I?

This is my own little way to use some of the techniques. There is a large amount of techniques in Thinkertoys and some critical analysis may be in order when reading this book for deciding on which techniques to use. Simply, I use what I like most.

Michael Michalko was interviewed one time and asked about the vast amount of techniques available, his response was: "What's important, I feel, is that readers and clients should not try to memorize specific techniques; rather, they should try to remember the basic principles around which my work in creativity is structured." He also responded, and in essence, I think this comment covers Thinkertoys in general, Michael also said: "Once the basic principles are understood, I always encourage my clients to invent their own creative-thinking techniques."

After using quite a few of the techniques in Michael's two books, I have found some of the techniques becoming easier and reflexive. I have found myself seeing ideas and problems very differently without even concentrating on them; also, I have come up with my own ways to use some of techniques.

This book is a special find. Period.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of tools, July 1, 2001

By	S. A. Corning (Gurnee, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques: FIRST EDITION (Paperback)

I coach an innovation workshop and provide each participant a copy of this book. The chapter on SCAMPER is worth the price alone. You will find each tool well explained with examples. The "Ideabox" is one of the best tools you can use which also has a section with good examples. The author's second book Cracking Creativity repeats most of the tools with less examples and more theory. I highly recommend this book as a reference for innovation tools.

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The closest thing to a cookbook for creative thinking, March 8, 2000

By	Mary Roush (Wilmington, DE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques: FIRST EDITION (Paperback)

As a learning solutions designer and trainer and as a targeted innovation facilitator, I have found this book of immense value for almost a decade. It provides step-by-step instructions for linear, lateral, and more intuitive thinking techniques--the closest thing to a step-by-step no-fail cookbook approach. The techniques are even organized (transparent to the non-professional user) to correspond with the KAI style-of-creativity scale. In other words, if you are left-brained OR if creativity means "make the thing BETTER", you will like the techniques at the front of the book. The more naturally "right-brained" you are (i.e. Improve = make it DIFFERENT), the farther toward the back of the book you might want to go. There are also great business examples in this book--they illustrate applied creativity to create value in business...no taint of tutus and crayons and "far out" ideas here...the stuff that alienates some business folk from valuing the relevance of creativity in the workplace.