Customer Reviews

The Universal Traveler: A Soft-Systems Guide to Creativity, Problem-Solving, and the Process of Reaching Goals

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I stumbled across this book in a bookstore in 1971, shortly after it was initially published. It has been, and continues to be, one of the most important books I have ever read.

It is true that the UT is a tremendous aid in unlocking a creative spirit necessary to various design problem situations. But the real power of the book is to be found when it is applied to all aspects of one's life in general. This is due to the fact that, for those more philosophically minded, The Universal Traveler method embodies a "moderate realist" approach to reality. In the process of solving problems, or improving situations as Koberg and Bagnall term it, you can make tremendous discoveries regarding both the structure of reality and, most important, the character of your self.

Should you choose to purchase and use this book, I would like to offer you some advice: read the book twice and then use it exactly as Koberg and Bagnall suggest. Start with small and limited projects and develop your understanding of the method before you move on to bigger and more complex ones. ** You will only unlock the power of this work by using the method. "" And, lastly, I would highly recommend you find one of the early editions, 1971 to 1976. There was a magic in the early work that seems to have been lost in the more "improved" editions.

I would like to thank publicly both Don Koberg and Jim Bagnall for having written this book. I can state without hesitation that it ranks among the top 10 books I have ever read. I use the UT process/method daily. As I have said over the years to the countless people to whom I have recommended this book, " . . . it is worth its weight in gold."

Happy Traveling!

I was introduced to the Universal Traveler while studying architecture during the 1970's. Over the past thirty years this book has pulled me out of creative ruts on numerous occasions. Whenever you become become bogged down during a design problem, take your mind off the issues and flip through the Univeral Traveler. The Traveler will re-equip you with fresh ideas to redefine your problem or question your approach. When you put the book down, you will be back on your design journey with renewed energy. I highly recommend this book.

I first read this book in 1979. Since then I've successfully used many of its techniques in my job as a research engineer. Recently I was asked by an intern how I was able to think so creatively. I told her about the book and assumed it was long out of print. I'm delighted to see it is still available. I highly recommend this book. For me it has stood the test of time.

Universal Traveler is a must read for anyone that wants some assistance figuring out how to get from here to there in your life. I also recommend their sequel, Values Tech. Get it and get it on.

This UPDATED CLASSIC EDITION is one of the BEST DESIGN PROCESS BOOKS I use as a Design Professor. This book was first introduced to me by my wonderful professors as an undergraduate student in 1979, I have and continue to use this book for myself and for all levels of art and design students from high school to seniors in college. The Universal Traveler helps us to understand that Design is a Process and a Journey. The authors have created an easy way for anyone to understand how we can make use of slowing down and looking at each phase of the process. Each stage of the design process is explained in detail giving the user tools to use immediately in their life and for their life. I highly recommend this book.

While there are many reviews on this book already, Here are my two cents.

The Universal traveller is a book about ways and methods to get inspired, How to turn inspiration into idea's, and how to then moake those ideas a reality. It even goes beyond that, its kind of a 'design process for life' book.

This book is a must read for you if you want to stimulate your mind, it doesnt matter who you are or what you may be doing, this book has something for you.A must read for Design students in particular, if possible get your own copy.


If there is one book I would reccomend to anyone in the field of problem solving (we all are in some way), then this would be it.

I rate this in the top 3 books I have ever read. I ran across this as graduate assistant and taught problem solving class structured around it. The design process it teaches underpins all human endeavors. It is useful to think of everything in our culture as a design, i.e., a response to a problem, a solution. Our task in innovation is to manage cycles of creation and destruction, the warp and woof of adaptation and innovation. In my mind, this book has no peer in empowering one to navigate this space.

If I controlled the world, design process would be taught right along side of reading, writing, math and science. Design is the overarching, integrative, unifying thought process needed to plow through the many muddles of our contemporary era. We don't need ideology, we need design methodology (for everyone).

Read this book and take it seriously. Apply it to your life and profession. It will open your eyes to new possibilities, and empower you to find an approach to difficult challenges. You will no longer think in nouns, but more in verbs. There are no solutions, only solutioning. Understanding this is liberating.

This book, if you really get it, is tranformational. When I taught these methods, the "A" students rebelled, wanting me to provide the same old fixed star answers so that they might report them back to me on tests. The smartest students, not "A" students, were ignited by the prospect of "answering", rather than being furnished the answers. Design process is the management of "answering", while understanding that the answers will never be perfect and must be tuned and tinkered along the way.

Become a life designer, not a solution subscriber. Get this book. It has been pivotal in my life. Perhaps the most important book I ever read. Teach it to your children and grandchildren. Use this design approach to manage change and find solutions. It works.

This is a classic book on creative problem solving. I bought my first edition in 1972. I was excited to see it's still in print. My book is yellow highlighted, doodled, and marked all over. Yes, I've put it to good use over the years. The book is designed to be fun, inviting, and an easy read. It's loaded with solid information on CPS, and it's a guide you'll refer whenever you're stuck or need a refresher. Without question, The Universal Traveler will help you get to your destination no matter what challenge or problem you might encounter.