<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Archimedes' Bathtub
Review: Excellent book by David N. Perkins who explores "breakthrough" thinking. The author reflects a "need to understand" demeanor that is profoundly the essence of real learning. Archimedes'Bathtub expresses the contemporary motivation of the intelligent person's need to understand. Don't put the book away until you really make a "connection" to what the author is saying. He is brilliant. When does one know the moment, they cross the invisible line of "affluence" to "opulence"? ...Rob Harriman, Ed.D.
Solana Beach, California USA
Rating:
Summary: What is the logic behind breakthrough discoveries?
Review: From Archimedes' discovery of water displacement to Einstein, this poses connections between human invention and biological evolutionary processes. What is the logic behind breakthrough discoveries across scientific disciplines? Chapters examine how changes in thinking lead to revolutionary findings.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Thoughts and Puzzles, Could be a bit more Solid
Review: I really enjoyed Mr. Perkins' theme and thoughts in this book. He did a good job of breaking down how he looks at breakthrough thinking, and outlining a good methodology for overcoming seemingly unsolvable problems. These theories are then demonstrated through several fairly quickly worked through puzzles that demonstrate how to make use of these problem solving techniques. The books is written in a fairly standard format, with the introduction outlining the 'big picture' and subsequent chapters breaking out details of Mr. Perkins problem solving approach in more detail. I did have some concerns about the book, the most notable being its repetitious nature. It almost seems as if the author has written a guide to teaching one's self this methodology rather than a book designed to explore the subject in depth. I believe that the author could wrap up his thesis and explain the methodology in probably 1/2 of the space that he has chosen, however, instead he has stretched out the context to fill some 260 pages. There were two academic areas that I had hoped to see a bit more of. The first was the author's brief review of the similarity in break through thinking with evolution, specifically with the theory of "punctuated equilibrium" which has long been put forth by the author's fellow Harvard Professor Mr. Stephen Jay Gould. Mr. Perkins throws out the similarity as well as a couple of other thoughts on the matter, but never really crystalizes a thesis. One would have hoped that the two professors proximity would have allowed a more mature discussion. The second, which I had hoped would have been developed, was the oddly parallel development of most of the world's major inventions. The printing press of Gutenberg and the heavier-than-aircraft of the Wright brothers were both developed amidst furious competition, as if the time of development for these inventions had finally been "right". It seems as if somewhere in this history there would be a logical point for Mr. Perkins to have developed. Again, I liked this book, but would have hoped for some more tangible support of his theories, either through experimental results or more first-hand interpretation of historical events. Where Mr. Perkins touches on the subject he does so with a very light brush stroke, and in doing so decreases the potency of what is otherwise an interesting piece of work.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing and annoying
Review: If you like puzzles, you'll be intrigued to see all the puzzles in this book. But if you like puzzles you will have met them all before. Only one or two were not familiar oldies. More serious are the outright mistakes. The writer coins a buzz word, "Klondike" for his theories and that word is scattered liberally throughout the book. Every time I read it I was reminded that when he introduces it, on page 46, he informs that the Klondike is in the Yukon Territory (correct) and the Yukon is in Alaska (wrong). On page 175 he tells us that ash is a compound of charcoal and oxygen. A man who claims so many fancy degrees ought not to be making High School mistakes, and his publisher ought to have cared enough about the book to hire a competent copy editor.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing and annoying
Review: If you like puzzles, you'll be intrigued to see all the puzzles in this book. But if you like puzzles you will have met them all before. Only one or two were not familiar oldies. More serious are the outright mistakes. The writer coins a buzz word, "Klondike" for his theories and that word is scattered liberally throughout the book. Every time I read it I was reminded that when he introduces it, on page 46, he informs that the Klondike is in the Yukon Territory (correct) and the Yukon is in Alaska (wrong). On page 175 he tells us that ash is a compound of charcoal and oxygen. A man who claims so many fancy degrees ought not to be making High School mistakes, and his publisher ought to have cared enough about the book to hire a competent copy editor.
Rating: 
Summary: A fun reading, but not your puzzle book source.
Review: This book is about what the author calls breakthough thinking. If you haven't heard the idea before, it's the moment that usually comes after years of getting stuck about a problem. Usually in a snap, you figure out the solution and wonder: why didn't I think of it earlier? Well, Perkins gives us four reasons, and reasons to think about them. Knowing them, you can change your thinking habits to incorporate them and improve your solving skills. 1. Think far and wide, explore as many and as diverse possibilities as you can. 2. When you're stuck, try to think about why you are stuck and focus on hidden clues (this is where background knowledge is useful, like Sherlock Holmes). 3. Rethink the problem in a different framework: are you assuming too much? did the problem really say it had to be this way? 4. Don't get stuck on a solution that ALMOST works; if it won't work, it's worthwile to forget it altogether and explore widely different possibilities. Now for the critic. The book IS helpful, but if you're a mathematician (like me) you already know most of that. You may however be interested by the parallel the author draws between evolution a la Darwin, problem solving, the emergence and evolution of ideas, and the Klondike gold rush. I found the book well argumented, challenging, and fun through the sprinkle of problems (whose solution is not immediately given). But somehow I had heard these ideas before, and at the end of your reading, you may wonder if you really learned that much. The first chapter was the most interesting to me. After that, the author embarked on a dissertation on the analysis of thinking pattern that is more systematic, a little academic at times, although thought-provoking all right. Still, you'll be challenged at times, and it's a fun reading. If you're not too good at problem-solving, or wonder why you should be, the book argues that it's really more than just a skill, it's a way of life. Assuming less, you will see hidden connections between things you do and care about, that may have nothing in common to these puzzles. But you could get your lucky break with a little practice at breakthrough thinking. In this dot.com age, there should be ample opportunities. So what are you waiting for? A last note: if you want more puzzles like this, try the Lateral Thinking Puzzles by Paul Sloane (several books). This book is not a puzzle book. Rather, it is an analytical discussion of puzzles, and the puzzles are there only to support the discussion.
Rating:
Summary: Clear and compelling information on breakthrough thinking
Review: This book itself is a breakthrough. I have yet to read a book on creativity that so effectively combines real-world advice on how to achieve breakthrough thinking in such an engaging and clearly presented way. As a book which is targeted toward the business person, rather than the academic, it does an excellent job of focusing on the key points and practical applications of breakthrough thinking without getting bogged down into too much detail. The authors start out by drawing you in with simple and compelling points on creativity and problem solving along with simple exercises to illustrate each point. They then build from there to elaborate and drive home both the techniques and the rationale behind those techniques in a way that continues to be engaging. As with any book of this sort, 50% is stuff you already know (but may not be practicing). However, I'll bet the other 50% will really make you to think about ways to improve your personal and your company's ability to achieve breakthrough thinking.
Rating:
Summary: Clear and compelling information on breakthrough thinking
Review: This book itself is a breakthrough. I have yet to read a book on creativity that so effectively combines real-world advice on how to achieve breakthrough thinking in such an engaging and clearly presented way. As a book which is targeted toward the business person, rather than the academic, it does an excellent job of focusing on the key points and practical applications of breakthrough thinking without getting bogged down into too much detail. The authors start out by drawing you in with simple and compelling points on creativity and problem solving along with simple exercises to illustrate each point. They then build from there to elaborate and drive home both the techniques and the rationale behind those techniques in a way that continues to be engaging. As with any book of this sort, 50% is stuff you already know (but may not be practicing). However, I'll bet the other 50% will really make you to think about ways to improve your personal and your company's ability to achieve breakthrough thinking.
<< 1 >>
| 
