Lateral Thinking for Every Day: Extraordinary Solutions to Ordinary Problems Paperback – 3 Jan. 2023

Item as advertised.

This a book that challenges the mind and helps in the solving of everyday problems. It is a refresher and reminder of how to engage our minds to produce radical results for solving problems.Paul’s style of writing is helpful to the reader, as he uses short chapters to illustrate how you can use lateral thinking in all aspects of work and your everyday thinking. He examines the dangers of conformity, group think and conventional thinking in your decision making, and show how thinking outside the box can produce interesting results.For example, we all get stuck from time to time in things we want to achieve, at home, at work or at play. Momentum has stalled and it is difficult to fire it up again. In one short chapter (32) Paul presents a ten-step plan to get you motivated, simply written and easy to follow.Thus, the book is for everyone, with many practical ideas, and case studies introducing you to new ways of thinking when you are faced with problems to solve, and helps you to think differently. The Book was discussed by the CSNet Book Discussion Group in July 2023.

I gave this book to my 18 y.o ahead of starting his engineering degree as lateral thinking is key. He said; It was very good, it taught me many new ways of generating ideas, as well as giving multiple methods for making those ideas better. Some of the riddles and lateral thinking puzzles in the book are a bit of stretch which I don't think many people would get, even if they are well-versed lateral thinkers but overall it was a great introduction to Lateral thinking.

I feel like I have just read a summary of other, much better, books on creative thinking. There is nothing original or new in this book just endless snippets and quotes from others. If you want a lazy journey through creative and lateral thinking then this is your book.

Previously, Paul Sloane's excellent books concentrated on very enjoyable lateral thinking puzzles. Now he has turned his attention to the use of lateral thinking in everyday life to help solve practical problems and succeed in virtually every area ⁸of human activity.His new book has sections on business, work, science, history, architecture, innovation, games, humour, marketing, mathematics and literally dozens of other areas of life.I challenge anyone to read this book and not come away with many new lateral ideas that can be applied to everyday situations. A great book bursting with new ideas, that can be thoroughly recommended.Anne MacHale.

We hear a lot about social media and other 'echo chambers', where existing opinions, beliefs and behaviours are reinforced by repetition and the absence of challenge or exposure to opposing views. This book is a timely reminder of how important it is to avoid the negative consequences which can result from such limited thinking and engagement. Some of the examples, and the practical techniques to stimulate creative or lateral thinking, will be familiar to many readers, but you are sure to find new ones here, too - all presented in an engaging and highly readable form.

Don't scratch your head to be different; just use Paul Sloane's latest offering. That was my initial view; having now read it in full, at length, it is remarkable and helpful in business and in life generally. Bravo Paul!

This is a great book for flipping through and finding a tactic for dealing with a problem.Historical examples of lateral thinking, ( though perhaps not called that at the time) are given for example in war, inventions and discoveries. We are given tools and hacks for everyday use and mental health, at work, ( get someone else to do the work, sounds good) and in society, like art and crime.To be honest, there is some overlap with one of the author’s other books, How to be a Brilliant Thinker, but it doesn’t detract from the content.It’s along similar lines to Roger von Oech’s Creative Whack Pack, which is also recommended.

Takeaways from reading the book:Ask questions and listenPages 5 and 26: As the world is constantly changing, it becomes increasingly important to ask questions. An example is the question "What if...?". This question can help to think of new possibilities and challenge assumptions.Develop many ideas- Page 96: Toyota generates 2 million ideas every year. 90% are implemented.- Page 101: To get many different questions and ideas, invite people, who are different from each other.Test ideas- Page 59: In 1908 in New York a tea merchant sent customers samples of tea leaves in small silken sachets to try out. Customers were supposed to empty out the contents. Instead some put the whole tea bag into the teapot and added hot water. The teapot is one of the most important inventions of all time.- Page 102: Test ideas in inexpensive ways.Learn from mistakes and adaptPage 40: Many children, who learn to ride a bicycle, fall off the bike a few times. They learn from their falls by getting up, adapting their way of cycling and trying again. Falling off the bike is a natural source of learning and improvement.Be curious about the unexpectedPage 59: In the early 1940s George de Mestral went for a walk one day with his dog in the Jura mountains in Switzerland. When he came back, he discovered that his trousers and the dog's furs contained tiny seed burrs. He examined the burrs under a microscope and saw that they had tiny hooks. This was the start of Velcro, an innovative way to fasten materials.Follow needs that people have- Page 17: Founders of Airbnb discovered a need people had to 1) rent their homes out to other people and 2) rent homes of other people. Airbnb is a digital platform that makes it possible for people with the 2 needs to help each other. Airbnb does not own homes people stay at.- Page 31: In 1831, Tiffany was started by Charles Tiffany and John Young in Brooklyn, Connecticut, USA as a stationery and fancy good store. In 1862, during the US civil war, Tiffany supplied the Union army with swords, flags and surgical implements. After the war, Tiffany focused on jewelry. Tiffany is now renowned for its luxurious goods and stores. In 2021, Tiffany was sold to LVMH.Be critical of what a group says and doesPage 10: Solomon Asch found that there are two reasons why people conform to what a group, which they are part of, does: 1. They want to fit in with the group. 2. They believe that the group is better informed than they are.Think together- Page 66: With the 6 thinking hats method, people think together using 6 different hats that denote 6 different ways of thinking. Everyone wears the same hat at the same time.- Page 69: With the Disney method, a team thinks together by taking on different roles. Examples: 1. As analysts they analyze facts and data. 2. As dreamers they develop ideas. 3. As realists they select the best ideas using concrete criteria and then develop a project plan. They also estimate costs and list risks as well as benefits. 4. As critics they evaluate the plan and identify problems, obstacles and risks.