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Summary: It worked wonders for my department
Review: Recently, everyone in my department was asked to read "Whack" before we headed off to an offsite. Usually, people are defensive at these kind of events, but "Whack" put us in a creative mood. It allowed all the participants to open their mental locks and look at our specific project with a fresh outlook. I would recommend this book to any group that is trying stimulate its creativity.
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Summary: Who Moved My Cheese Before Who Moved My Cheese
Review: Roger von Oech takes a very creative look at the 10 mental locks that keep us from being creative. Using a highly entertaining style, fun illustrations, anecdotes, quotations and puzzles, he tries to open the 10 mental locks:1. The Right Answer
2. That's Not Logical
3. Follow the Rules
4. Be Practical
5. Avoid Ambiguity
6. To Err is Wrong
7. Play is Frivolous
8. That's Not My Area
9. Don't Be Foolish
10. I'm Not Creative I also recommend his sequel - A Kick in the Seat of the Pants.
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Summary: a healthy dose of creativity
Review: There are some self-help books which are enjoyable to read, but may not be entirely beneficial. A Whack on the Side of the Head falls close to this. What it offers isn't really groundbreaking. Heck, I can sum it up like this: "do something different when faced with a problem." But sometimes we need to be reminded of what seems obvious because we, as society, have come to ignore the obvious. So this 150 page reassurance isn't a bad thing to look through. Like I said, it was enjoyable to read because of the way it was written. It had a lot of spelling errors, though, and the author doesn't exactly treat other's quotes right. Not to mention a plethora of pictures so wacky, they're disturbing. But for those who are struggling with ideas as of late, give it a whirl.
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Summary: Yes, It's True...You Really Can be More Creative
Review: This book should be read in combination with A Kick in the Seat of the Pants...and preferably read first. Just a suggestion. Von Oech demonstrates in his thinking and in his writing the same principles he advocates so eloquently. In Whack, first published in 1983, he identifies ten "locks" which limit (if not preclude) creative thinking: The Right Answer That's Not Logical Follow the Rules Be Practical Play Is Frivolous That's Not My Area Avoid Ambiguity Don't Be Foolish To Err Is Wrong I'm Not Creative How does each limit (if not preclude) creative thinking? How can each be "unlocked"? To what extent are these barriers interdependent? Von Oech devotes a separate chapter to each of the ten, answering these and other questions while providing various exercises in support of his explanations. Whack will be immensely valuable to executives in any organization which needs a culture within which to generate and then nourish fresh ideas and new perspectives. The same is true of all self-employed people (especially independent consultants) whose customers or clients expect them to address the same need. Finally, I think that school, college, and university classroom teachers can devise all manner of appropriate applications of von Oech's ideas. When you listen to Richard Feyman's lectures on physics (now available on audio cassettes), you suspect that he has read all of von Oech's books. He probably didn't. Nonetheless, he and von Oech are kindred spirits. In addition to von Oech's A Kick in the Seat of the Pants, there are other excellent books also worthy of your consideration. They include those written by Edward de Bono, Guy Claxton, Michael Michalko, and Joey Reiman.
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Summary: A Wonderful Creativity source! A Must Read!
Review: This classic book provides a host of tips and techniques on how to be more creative. It's filled with stories, anecdotes, exercises and provocative illustrations that will stimulate you to think in new and different ways. This new 3rd edition also includes much fresh material on the world's first creativity teacher: Heraclitus of Ephesus. All in all, easy to read and well worth the investment of your time. I've given many copies to my friends and business associates.
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