Buy new:
-41% $9.43
$3.99 delivery July 1 - 3
Ships from: Shakespeare Book House
Sold by: Shakespeare Book House
$9.43 with 41 percent savings
List Price: $15.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
$3.99 delivery July 1 - 3. Details
Or fastest delivery June 28 - July 2. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$9.43 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$9.43
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Shakespeare Book House
Ships from
Shakespeare Book House
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Returnable Yes
Resolutions Eligible for refund or replacement
Return Window 30 days from delivery
Refund Timelines Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here.
Late fee A late fee of 20% of the item price will apply if you complete the drop off or pick up after the ‘Return By Date’.
Restocking fee A restocking fee may apply if the item is not returned in original condition and original packaging, or is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to seller error. See details here.
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Returnable Yes
Resolutions Eligible for refund or replacement
Return Window 30 days from delivery
Refund Timelines Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here.
Late fee A late fee of 20% of the item price will apply if you complete the drop off or pick up after the ‘Return By Date’.
Restocking fee A restocking fee may apply if the item is not returned in original condition and original packaging, or is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to seller error. See details here.

Return instructions

Item must be in original condition and packaging along with tag, accessories, manuals, and inserts. Unlock any electronic device, delete your account and remove all personal information.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$1.24
Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc... Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc... See less
$3.98 delivery July 3 - 5. Details
Only 6 left in stock - order soon.
$$9.43 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$9.43
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by glenthebookseller.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Roger VonOech
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative Paperback – December 1, 1998

by Roger von Oech (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 408 ratings
See all formats and editions

There is a newer edition of this item:

A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative
A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative
$19.79
(5)
In Stock
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$9.43","priceAmount":9.43,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"43","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2FAdgu1O1mOBeIOxifAnsbCe79E3ICEbAqn5NlNEtcaqVL6z3PjRIG8%2B9NXJIavJOMKidYg3Owf546j7yv2Hh%2Bg2NgwlJqsbGhwLYyunDIa%2FTq4m2ojPcTWKKePFSMJ6NW6nzobzqgNor%2FdZqC25nJhCXqHzLpja80M6I8D849RkA3enA5p2snethZ%2BLOUTtY","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$1.24","priceAmount":1.24,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"1","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"24","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2FAdgu1O1mOBeIOxifAnsbCe79E3ICEbAC7wyjmCiYPH%2BkEpRiyg0RaEYKh5gH8zx0B2wbaiNXRlOyKgV%2Fug5DlfzzS%2B9qJYhgVvLkNrye2DWrmRPBZityZ5MRnz6skjbHjYRKFyJenC0%2FmlBYMI%2FdISTyj%2FRGWLJPS%2FwcGuGhhb3VE7lCS1lToK2k%2Fiq7kn3","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Revised and expanded for the 1990s, here is the bestselling creative-thinkingclassic written by America's foremost creativity consultant. Illustrated.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Business Plus
  4. Publication date
    December 1, 1998
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.63 x 9.13 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0446674559
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0446674553
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative
$13.43
Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 1
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by Hawthorne Specialty and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
Creative Whack Pack® Deck
$15.60
Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 1
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
A Kick in the Seat of the Pants: Using Your Explorer, Artist, Judge, and Warrior to Be More Creative
$12.72
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jul 2
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by PrimeStores. and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Control
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Similar items that may deliver to you quickly

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  1. A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative
  2. Creative Whack Pack® Deck
  3. A Whack on the Side of the Head: How To Unlock Your Mind For Innovation
  4. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Austin Kleon)
  5. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
  6. The Creative Contrarian: 20 "Wise Fool" Strategies to Boost Creativity and Curb Groupthink
Next page

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ROGER VON OECH is the president of Creative Think, a California-based consulting firm that has conducted creativity seminars with such companies as American Express, Apple Computer, AT&T, CBS, IBM, NBC, and NASA. He earned his doctorate from Stanford University in a self-conceived program in the history of ideas.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Business Plus; Revised edition (December 1, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0446674559
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0446674553
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.63 x 9.13 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 408 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Roger VonOech

Roger VonOech

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Roger von Oech is the founder and president of Creative Think, a California-based consulting firm that specializes in stimulating creativity and innovation. He has given seminars and presentations to corporations worldwide, including Coca-Cola, GE, Disney, Intel, MTV, Microsoft, NASA, Apple, Citigroup, and the United States Olympic Committee. He is the author of two previous creative-thinking books, A Whack on the Side of the Head and A Kick in the Seat of the Pants, as well as the popular Creative Whack Pack card deck. He lives with his wife and children in Atherton, California.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
We don’t use a simple average to calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star. Our system gives more weight to certain factors—including how recent the review is and if the reviewer bought it on Amazon. Learn more
408 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sue G
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for creatives!
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
I read this book before architecture school and it changed my mindset. Whenever I had trouble solving a visual problem I thought to myself, “turn it around, turn it upside down, take it apart & put it together in a different way!”. Now that I’m retired I still use the lessons in this book, many years later. I gave a copy to my son when he started college to study animation & graphic design. He’s now very successful. I bought this new copy as a gift for a young relative having difficulties at work. She says it is helping a lot. She said in a team meeting her suggestions are now considered and coworkers compliment her on her innovative thought process.
Helpful
 Report
TANADI SANTOSO
5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST of all time CREATIVITY BOOKs.
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2002
Verified Purchase
I did seminar and workshop on entrepreneruship and creativity and have read probably about 20 books on creativity. And i have to admit this is the BEST BOOK on creativity. this is THE CLASSIC book on the subject. The author hs just written a new book (EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED) but this onw is WAY SUPERIOR and BETTER.
This is an old book but still freash to read and delighting to enjoy. The samples and the materials are easy to read yet very2 strong and useful.
I gave away this books to friends who want to learn more about creativity and want to change his/her attitude toward life.
Most people know that creativity is one of the key element of success yet so few take action of any sort to do something about it. So do yourself a favor, go and buy this book, read, and start think about it in your daily life. it will be beneficial for your future success and happiness.
52 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Elizabeth
4.0 out of 5 stars Ouch! I'm More Creative!
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2010
Verified Purchase
Sometimes you just need a whack on the head to unleash your inner creativity. Not literally of course - I'm speaking metaphorically (which I learned is an important tool of creativity). This classic book originally came out in 1983 and was updated and republished for it 25th anniversary. It is an engaging quick read, filled with quirky drawings and fun facts that will hopefully jolt you out of your comfort zone and inspire you to be more creative. It is structured as 10 mental locks which you can train yourself to recognize and "unlock". They are: 1) The Right Answer 2) That's Not Logical 3) Follow the Rules 4) Be Practical 5) Play is Frivolous 6) That's Not my Area 7) Don't Be Foolish 8) Avoid Ambiguity 9) The Err is Wrong 10) I'm Not Creative.

Don't think that I gave everything away. You actually need to read the book and do the exercises to benefit from the author's wisdom and experience - he has had a long career as a consultant to companies that want to teach their employees how to be creative. Like any self help book, the difficult part is making a change in your thinking and sustaining that change. I like the last part of the book called "A Whack on the Other Side of the Head" which addresses the fact that creativity alone is not enough - you actually need to implement your best creative ideas.
I am going to focus on one mental lock at a time, starting with the "Right Answer" Lock. The idea is that when you think you have arrived at the right answer, ask youself "What is the second right answer?" And just keep generating ideas.
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
J Abrams
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on Innovative Thinking
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
I like this book so much I have purchased many for work teams who need to think out of the box to find good solutions. I used this book with my leadership team and have given probably 20 as gifts, as was this one. Going to the Owner of a company as birthday gift
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Armando Mayorquin
5.0 out of 5 stars It's a great way to look at things differently
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book is old but wow. It's a great way to look at things differently. The writer must of been a neat guy. It will help you think outside the box for sure. Also, it's full of good facts about how people think and how to find answers in places you never thought of before.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
WayMeister
5.0 out of 5 stars I think this is one of the most important books ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
I think this is one of the most important books anybody can read, especially somebody who went through 12 years of public school education which can really, as Steve Jobs once said, "beat the inquisitiveness out of [you]".

Roger really shows how a person can be worn down to where they don't think creatively at all as their mind is locked up in a number of different ways. This book helps to unlock those mental locks.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Graham M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Whacked.
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
Brilliant book for anybody wanting to learn how to think out of the box. Highly recommended for kids and adults alike.
Helpful
 Report
Ben
3.0 out of 5 stars Just ok
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
I wished that this book was organized in such a way that it could be better used as a handbook for generating creative thinking. I will probably refer to this when I am trying to be me creative later on, but as a person who thinks in a creative way already I found it to be just ok.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Mahesh Gupta
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book
Reviewed in India on May 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
A very nice book on Innovation. I loved it.
Report
Sean P Flatley
5.0 out of 5 stars A great classic book to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
I loved this book from the start and it is rich and packed with llts of great creative business opportunities and ideas.
I highly recommend it as its gets better and better each chapters. It also gets your grey minf matter working as well.
But overall a highly recommended book and I definitely will be rereading it again soon
Best wishes Sean
Report
Bill Ratcliffe PhD Adjunct Prof U Waterloo
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
It is a classic.
Report
Raphaël
2.0 out of 5 stars Bof
Reviewed in France on April 9, 2018
Verified Purchase
Pas génial, un peu déçu par ce bouquin, très très léger. Et à lire sur kindle, c'est franchement limite. Cher pour ce que c'est.
Report
Jaume Sató
5.0 out of 5 stars Está lleno de ideas atrevidas desde la primera página. Es un revulsivo para la innovación.
Reviewed in Spain on September 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
Había leído alguna referencia, pero disponer del libro entero es francamente un privilegio. A pesar de los años transcurridos desde su primera edición sigue siendo un libro de referencia en el ámbito.
Report