How to Have Creative Ideas: 62 Exercises to Develop the Mind - Edward De Bono

Advantages: Good, straightfoward advice
Disadvantages: Do not be put off by tag 'philosophy'

...hugely influential in teh 1990's and his books have become best sellers. Content ~~ I found this book extremely useful. Not only is it concise, but it opened up a whole new way of thinking. You know those days when you wonder 'am I a secretary or do I want to be a manager?' or when you are stretched emotionally into doing more jobs than you think you are capable of? Well, de Bono explains which personal qualities are bought to the fore for each type of situation. This is most easily illustrated by the example of a brainstormig session, eg at work. Do we want a practical, pragmatic solution to a problem, or does it require forward planning, or would demonstrating empathy for a colleague be more appropriate? De Bono illustates how all these qualities have a place in the workplace. His basic idea is that different emotions, or ways... Read review

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Advantages: A true classic
Disadvantages: Content could be broadened

...Aristotelian mind idealised. This book was written in 1940, as World War II was beginning and the Great Depression ending; it was revised in the 60s and again in 70s, with the assistance of Charles Van Doren, another person who had had some difficult dealings with Columbia, due to his involvement in the quiz show scandals of the 1950s. Van Doren moved away from the East Coast and landed in Chicago, near Adler, at Britannica, also again near Adler, and has the kind of intellect and unconventional circumstance that Adler admired. Adler wrote in the preface to the latest edition: 'If there was a need for "How to Read a Book" thirty years ago, as the reception of the first edition of the book would certainly seem to indicate, the need is much greater today. … Among the reasons for rewriting "How to Read a Book", I have stressed the things... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting and easy to read
Disadvantages: You may get the terms muddled

...be recognized for how it looks, what it feels like, what noises it makes and how it tastes; though, of course, people who've never eaten pork will not have a Recognition Unit for taste. 4.Paying attention. This explains the 'stages' of paying attention to something - arousal, orientation and reward and novelty detection. It also addresses sleep/consciousness and dreams. 5.The emotional mind. Again, you can work out the topics from the chapter title! It opens with an account of Phineas Gage, who survived an injury where a tamping iron pierced his left cheek and exited from the top of his skull, leaving him with a big hole and a complete change of character. There's also a section on Asperger's and autism and a lot on the effects of five common drugs: nicotine, cannabis, alcohol, ecstasy and LSD on the mind. 6.The learning mind... Read review

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