SNAP: Seizing Your Aha! Moments

by Katherine Ramsland, Deborah Blum (Foreword)

Sudden flashes of inspiration have triggered many discoveries and inventions throughout history. Are such aha! moments merely random, or is there a way to train the brain to harness these seemingly unpredictable creative insights? This fascinating overview of the latest neuroscience findings on spontaneous thought processes, or "snaps," describes how everyone-not just geniuses-can learn to improve the likelihood of their own "eureka" moments by adopting certain rewarding attitudes and habits. As the author explains, snaps are much more than new ideas. Snaps are insights plus momentum-they instantly compel or snap us toward action. They often occur after ordinary problem solving hits an impasse. We may feel stuck, but while we're in a quandary, the brain is rebooting. Then, when we least expect it, the solution pops into our heads. She describes the results of numerous scientific experiments studying this phenomenon. She also recounts intriguing stories of people in diverse disciplines who have had a snap experience. Both the research and the stories illustrate that it's possible to enhance our facility for snap moments by training ourselves to scan, sift, and solve. In the emerging economy, businesses and individuals need new strategies, and it's clear that just thinking harder no longer works. People who can snap are often a step they have a vigilance advantage from exercising brain cells that build mental agility. While snapping is rewarding, fun, and good for improving our mental skills, it's also much people who snap life-changing ideas that affect many others will redirect our future.Written in an accessible, jargon-free narrative that weaves together the latest research with illuminating stories of innovative people, this book teaches us how to cultivate our own inner epiphanies to gain an edge in our imaginations, our careers, our goals-indeed, in every aspect of our lives.

Genres: Business, Self Help, Nonfiction

283 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

I've loved books since I was 3, and the library was a highlight of my childhood. I've been fortunate to be able to find great joy in what others have written and sometimes to give this to readers. I follow my own muse, because it leads me on interesting adventures. I began my writing career with "Prism of the Night: A Biography of Anne Rice." I had a bestseller with "The Vampire Companion." Since then, I've published 69 books and over 2,500 articles, reviews and short stories. I have also been an executive producer for "Murder House Flip" and "BTK: Confession of a Serial Killer." From ghosts to vampires to serial killers, I have taken on a variety of dark subjects, mostly in crime and forensics. I hold graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, criminal justice, creative writing and philosophy. Currently, I teach forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. My books include "I Scream Man," "How to Catch a Killer", "Confession of a Serial Killer", "The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds", "The Mind of a Murderer", "The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation", "Inside the Minds of Serial Killers", "Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators", and "Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers". My background in forensic studies positioned me to assist former FBI profiler John Douglas on his book, "The Cases that Haunt Us", and to co-write a book with former FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary, "The Unknown Darkness", as well as "Spree Killers" with Mark Safarik, "The Real Life of a Forensic Scientist" with Henry C. Lee, and "A Voice for the Dead" with James Starrs. I speak internationally about forensic psychology, forensic science, and serial murder, and has appeared on numerous documentaries, as well as such programs as The Today Show, 20/20, 48 Hours, NPR, Dr. Oz, Coast to Coast, Montel Williams, Larry King Live and E! True Hollywood. Currently, I'm working on a fiction series, The Nut Cracker Investigations, which features a female forensic psychologist who manages a PI agency. "I Scream Man" is the first one.

Reviews

[Reid Burroughs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the reviews for this book on Goodreads. I have read the Am…,reviews and wonder about poor reviews that recommend other authors. Though this does show a type of transparency. The book is worth the read if you have an interest in how your brain works. If you find yourself overwhelmed or frustrated by different types of problems this book can help relieve some of that tension. There is science and anecdotal evidence contained in the book. It’s written in a friendly positive manner. I think an update on this research would be in order. That is my only reason for not 5 starring the book.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for PMI continuing education credit. Interesting premise with several good stories and examples. Author did get onto some ruts with long stories (Custer) that dragged on without clearly demonstrating her point.

[Laine J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started very well and with interesting stories and examples but as the chapters unfold, it became too detailed with scientific explanations that made me lose interest.

[Lynetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ramsland has a good section on memory, the brain, chemicals, as well as many interesting stories.

Martin Cooper was on his patio in the 1960s when the phone rang inside. He got up to answer it and began to dream of a portable phone. His "SNAP" was to see Captain Kirk pull out his device and send orders. Ramsland says the first creation, "was more like a brick with an antenna sticking out, and the caller still needed to program it by hand." Even so, think of the improvements and how our current devices are stronger than the computers that NASA had to send spaceships into space. (pages 99-101)

Dean Kamen was in high school when his brother in medical school suggested he a method to deliver drugs to patients. The patent for his prototype, the AutoSyringe, a wearable infusion pump, was sold for $30 million. Kamen also invented a stair-climbing wheelchair as well as the Segway, the scooter used by policemen and other professions. (pages 45-46)

She writes of Ving Rhames who followed a couple of girls into a poetry class which changed his life. (page 50) Abraham Lincoln bought a barrel of books for half a dollar. The barrel contained law books which influenced the path of his life. (page 52) Laszlo Polgar and his wife were educators and decided to see where their three daughters found their bliss. Turned out it was chess and by the age of five they all excelled. (page 59-66)

I am friends with a wife who said they celebrated the first 25 patents but after that quit counting. While I do have "snaps," I'm certainly not in the same league.

It's an interesting read and I recommend it.

[Donna Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Much of it was way over my head but it challenged me. I appreciated all of the many, many examples of insight and creativity. I have experienced this phenomena and she described it perfectly. This book is full of fascinating people and inspirational stories. My fav quote of her book: "Innate abilities and gifts mean nothing if the person does not engage them toward a meaningful purpose."

[Shelley Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of attending two speaking engagements of Katherine Ramsland. In one of them, she explained the theory behind this book. Have to say she's a wonderful speaker and an incredibly talented and intelligent person.

I then purchased the book in order to get the details. It was quite detailed and explanatory with suggestions for developing your individual way to invoke those AHA moments in your life.

[Weegee Sachtjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My reason for picking up this book was my recent interest in the creative process and how people reach the moment that they feel compelled to create. This book highlights the process and offers several distinctive examples of how people in various professionals or stages of life found their Aha! moments.

[Martin Moleski]

Both B. J. F. Lonergan, SJ, and Michael Polanyi talk about the power of sudden insights that transform the way we see things. I imagine this book will confirm their view of how the mind works. I'm looking forward to reading it some day.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked it a lot... Great advice and helps open your head to some new ideas and approaches.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of the stories reminded me of self help books I've read before. Plus, it brought back memories of social psychology classes. It was a nice read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary book! A lot of great ideas on a topic we don't hear much on.

[Christy Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok, not bad. Didn't motivate me.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed stories of insights and discoveries. 3.4