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Think Better: An Innovator's Guide to Productive Thinking
There are thousands of books about thinking. But there are very few books that provide clear how-to information that can actually help you think better. Think Better is about Productive Thinking ― why it’s important, how it works, and how to use it at work, at home, and at play. Productive Thinking is a game changer ― a practical, easy-to-learn, repeatable process that helps people understand more clearly, think more creatively, and plan more effectively. It's based on the thinking strategies that people we celebrate for their creativity have been using for centuries. Tim Hurson brings Productive Thinking out of the closet and presents it in a way that makes it easy for anyone to grasp and use ― so you can think better, work better, and do better in every aspect of your life. Think Better demonstrates how you can start with an intractable technical problem, an unmet consumer need, or a gaping chasm in your business strategy and, by following a clearly defined, practical thinking process, arrive at a robust, innovative solution. Many companies use the Productive Thinking model to generate fresh solutions for tough business problems, and many individuals rely on it to solve pressing personal problems. The principles you'll find in Think Better are straight-forward: separate your thinking into creative thinking and critical thinking; stay with the question; strive for the “third third” by generating lots and lots of ideas; and look for unexpected connections. The model consists of six interlocking steps: Step 1: What's Going On? Explore and truly understand the challenge. Step 2: What's Success? Envision the ideal outcome and establish success criteria. Step 3: What's the Question? Pinpoint the real problem or opportunity. Step 4: Generate Answers List many possible solutions. Step 5: Forge the Solution Decide which solution is best. Then make it better. Step 6: Align Resources Create an action plan. Tim Hurson starts by explaining how we all build inner barriers to effective thinking. He identifies our habits of thinking that severely limit our behavior, from “monkey mind” to “gator brain.” Then he demonstrates how to overcome these barriers. More than anything, productive thinking is an attitude that will let you look at problems and convert them into opportunities. At the end of this disciplined brainstorming process, you'll have a concrete action plan, complete with timelines and deadlines. The book is filled with many of Hurson's original brainstorming tools that will empower you to generate, organize, and process ideas. For example, you can identify your best ideas using the five C' s: C ull, C luster, C ombine, C larify and C hoose. And you can transform an embryonic idea into a robust solution with POWER , which stands for P ositives, O bjections, W hat else?, E nhancements and R emedies. To create the future, you first must be able to imagine it. Productive thinking is a way to help you do that.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2007
124 people are currently reading
1244 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 5, 2016
Pretty bad. Lots of mumbo jumbo, pseudo science and wishful thinking. Nothing of much of value, more pseudo processes to give the illusion of control and planning.
There were a few good observations scattered about.
The most insightful one: "Training, as practiced in much of corporate America, is an astonishing waste of resources."
Mr. Hurson goes on to explain that a hour, or a day training on a new process, a new skill, etc. With out the ability to use such knowledge once back in the office is MBH (Management By Hope).
There were a few good observations scattered about.
The most insightful one: "Training, as practiced in much of corporate America, is an astonishing waste of resources."
Mr. Hurson goes on to explain that a hour, or a day training on a new process, a new skill, etc. With out the ability to use such knowledge once back in the office is MBH (Management By Hope).
August 23, 2008
Hurson explains that the premise of this book "is that success in our business, professional, and personal lives is less a matter of what we know than of how we think. If we can develop the thinking skills to generate more options and then evaluate those options more effectively, we can all live richer, fuller lives - and so can the people around us." The focus of the this book is on the thinkx Productive Thinking Model (PTM), developed by Hurson and his colleagues after rigorously evaluating a number of other methodologies that include the Creative Problem Solving Process (CPS) and Integrated Definition (IDEF).
There seems to be greater emphasis on improving problem solving than on improving any other function of better thinking (e.g. generation, evaluation, and selection of innovative ideas), although the PTM process consists of six interlocking steps that can help to achieve a variety of objectives. Each step includes a variety of tools and techniques that Hurson explains, citing relevant real-world examples throughout his narrative to illustrate how various companies have used the PTM. Hurson devotes a separate chapter to each step.
In the final chapter, he asserts that -- as practiced in much of corporate America -- training "is an astonishing waste of resources" when there is no follow-through on front-end training to embed and then strengthen even more the skills taught. In fact, the word "training" has lost its meaning because it is now more commonly used to refer to information transfer rather than skill development. "Hurson prefers the word "entraining." Why? "In chemistry, to entrain means to trap suspended particles in a solution and carry them along. This concept is an apt metaphor for skill development...Entraining results in a new and different workflow. Keeping those new skill particles suspended in your workflow requires the forging of new synaptic connections, new neural pathways." Hurson concludes his book with a relevant observation by Yogi Berra: "In theory there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."
There seems to be greater emphasis on improving problem solving than on improving any other function of better thinking (e.g. generation, evaluation, and selection of innovative ideas), although the PTM process consists of six interlocking steps that can help to achieve a variety of objectives. Each step includes a variety of tools and techniques that Hurson explains, citing relevant real-world examples throughout his narrative to illustrate how various companies have used the PTM. Hurson devotes a separate chapter to each step.
In the final chapter, he asserts that -- as practiced in much of corporate America -- training "is an astonishing waste of resources" when there is no follow-through on front-end training to embed and then strengthen even more the skills taught. In fact, the word "training" has lost its meaning because it is now more commonly used to refer to information transfer rather than skill development. "Hurson prefers the word "entraining." Why? "In chemistry, to entrain means to trap suspended particles in a solution and carry them along. This concept is an apt metaphor for skill development...Entraining results in a new and different workflow. Keeping those new skill particles suspended in your workflow requires the forging of new synaptic connections, new neural pathways." Hurson concludes his book with a relevant observation by Yogi Berra: "In theory there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."
March 27, 2009
Practical tool for improving creativity
Tim Hurson begins with a simple premise: Anyone can learn to “think better” – in other words, more creatively and productively. He says that by applying his methods, anyone can reliably come up with fresh ideas and solutions. If you’ve dipped into the fields of creativity, innovation or brainstorming before, you may find yourself nodding along, since his initial ideas are not surprising. Similarly, some of the techniques Hurson offers and the examples he shares to illustrate them will be familiar to anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with the field. However, others of his techniques are new. Hurson supplies prompts, basic diagrams, questions and examples. He adores mnemonics, formulas and acronyms. The book is written clearly and simply enough to appeal to inexperienced readers. However, getAbstract especially recommends it to managers and trainers with knowledge of the field; you’ll be more able to quickly see the distinctions between Hurson’s techniques and other brainstorming methods and appreciate the value he is offering.
Tim Hurson begins with a simple premise: Anyone can learn to “think better” – in other words, more creatively and productively. He says that by applying his methods, anyone can reliably come up with fresh ideas and solutions. If you’ve dipped into the fields of creativity, innovation or brainstorming before, you may find yourself nodding along, since his initial ideas are not surprising. Similarly, some of the techniques Hurson offers and the examples he shares to illustrate them will be familiar to anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with the field. However, others of his techniques are new. Hurson supplies prompts, basic diagrams, questions and examples. He adores mnemonics, formulas and acronyms. The book is written clearly and simply enough to appeal to inexperienced readers. However, getAbstract especially recommends it to managers and trainers with knowledge of the field; you’ll be more able to quickly see the distinctions between Hurson’s techniques and other brainstorming methods and appreciate the value he is offering.
February 17, 2013
I listened to the audio book version. It offers good insight into techniques to produce valuable and innovative ideas and solutions. In general I found it good to help bringing us out of the box and stop going with the "same old, same old" type of thinking. But as any book of this kind, it is filled with a considerable amount of self-help-like filler and motivational stories. Some of the cases are quite interesting and fun to try to find a solution, though. For example, the story about a telecom that wanted to reduce the time people spent on free calls offered from public telephones, without scaring them away from the free service.
August 15, 2014
Great book about active thinking. My takeaways:
1. Only by correctly framing problems do we unleash the power to find true solutions. We must fight the temptation to chase after the obvious, ie., no money, time or resources.
2. Early ideas aren't really ideas but regurgitations of patterns that we already have. If we stop at the first 10 ideas, we haven't gotten past the regurgitation.
3. The danger of plans is that they give us an illusion of control. The power of plans is that they force us to better understand issues and gain buy in.
A helpful reminder that experience can act as blinders to true innovation.
1. Only by correctly framing problems do we unleash the power to find true solutions. We must fight the temptation to chase after the obvious, ie., no money, time or resources.
2. Early ideas aren't really ideas but regurgitations of patterns that we already have. If we stop at the first 10 ideas, we haven't gotten past the regurgitation.
3. The danger of plans is that they give us an illusion of control. The power of plans is that they force us to better understand issues and gain buy in.
A helpful reminder that experience can act as blinders to true innovation.
November 10, 2014
A great book which gives a great framework to understand the complex problems and find a suitable solution to the problem. The best takeaway from the book is the suggestion to be with the problem for a longer time rather than jumping to the solution. The more time that is spent in identifying the problem, the better the effect the solution would be. This book also provides some great tools to use for problem solving.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has interest in problem solving and creative idea generation.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has interest in problem solving and creative idea generation.
December 31, 2013
Not helpful for me because it focuses primarily on creative problem solving in a (corporate) work environment. It's possible it would be helpful for people looking for that sort of guidance, though it seemed to me not particularly original. But I was looking for guidance on creativity, and I chose this book without reading closely.
July 10, 2010
This book is excellent in terms of, as it says, productive thinking. Excellent for business professionals (virtually every type of professional, actually) and it makes a great companion to Scott Belsky's book Making Ideas Happen.
Must read.
Must read.
September 28, 2008
One of the best books I've read on this subject. The careful analysis of the steps needed to expand one's thinking is great. Very practical ideas. I strongly recommend this book.
July 8, 2011
The first few chapters is really very good. Later chapters are more for reference and should be unused as a checklist to think better.
March 3, 2012
I think he has the right idea in the book but I thought it could have been condensed significantly.
August 4, 2013
Good content, a concrete plan for the discipline of design thought and ideation, specifically.
April 30, 2018
Good processes for getting better ideas out of groups. Not certain it will work as well with individuals, but I'll certainly at least play with it a bit before deciding.
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April 15, 2025O livro aborda de forma aprofundada a importância do pensamento produtivo como uma habilidade essencial no desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional. Em um mundo saturado de informações, a capacidade de pensar de maneira criativa e inovadora se torna um diferencial significativo, mais do que o volume de conhecimento acumulado.
A obra começa explicando que, embora todos possuam um potencial criativo, muitos enfrentam barreiras que inibem essa capacidade. O autor argumenta que o cérebro humano é programado para economizar energia, o que muitas vezes resulta em um pensamento superficial ou reativo, dificultando a busca por soluções originais. Para ilustrar esse conceito, ele utiliza um exemplo histórico famoso: a solução simples e direta encontrada pelos cientistas soviéticos para um problema com canetas no espaço, contrastando com a solução mais elaborada e custosa adotada pelos americanos, o que demonstra que em muitas ocasiões soluções simples podem ser as mais eficazes.
O livro distingue entre pensamento reprodutivo e pensamento produtivo. O primeiro busca apenas melhorar ideias e soluções já existentes, enquanto o segundo propõe uma abordagem que vai além do convencional, focando em gerar novas soluções e abordagens. O autor enfatiza a importância de questionar as respostas óbvias e comuns, propondo que essa prática pode levar a insights valiosos.
Uma parte essencial da obra é dedicada às etapas que compõem a estrutura do pensamento produtivo, que são apresentadas como um processo sistemático: começa com a identificação clara do problema, seguida pela geração de várias ideias, análise das soluções possíveis, seleção da melhor opção e finalizando com a implementação efetiva da solução escolhida. O autor ressalta a importância de criar um plano de ação realista durante esse processo, algo que pode aumentar as chances de sucesso na aplicação das soluções encontradas.
O texto enfatiza a flexibilidade do método, que deve ser ajustado conforme as necessidades específicas de cada situação. Além disso, o autor adverte sobre os perigos de buscar soluções criativas de forma apressada, pois isso pode resultar em ideias inadequadas e desperdício de tempo, sugerindo que o processo demandará paciência e reflexão.
A prática contínua do pensamento produtivo é destacada como fundamental para o seu aprimoramento, tornando essa forma de pensar cada vez mais automática. O autor incentiva os leitores a identificarem áreas em suas vidas onde podem aplicar essas técnicas, testando-as em diferentes contextos para melhorar gradualmente suas habilidades criativas.
A obra começa explicando que, embora todos possuam um potencial criativo, muitos enfrentam barreiras que inibem essa capacidade. O autor argumenta que o cérebro humano é programado para economizar energia, o que muitas vezes resulta em um pensamento superficial ou reativo, dificultando a busca por soluções originais. Para ilustrar esse conceito, ele utiliza um exemplo histórico famoso: a solução simples e direta encontrada pelos cientistas soviéticos para um problema com canetas no espaço, contrastando com a solução mais elaborada e custosa adotada pelos americanos, o que demonstra que em muitas ocasiões soluções simples podem ser as mais eficazes.
O livro distingue entre pensamento reprodutivo e pensamento produtivo. O primeiro busca apenas melhorar ideias e soluções já existentes, enquanto o segundo propõe uma abordagem que vai além do convencional, focando em gerar novas soluções e abordagens. O autor enfatiza a importância de questionar as respostas óbvias e comuns, propondo que essa prática pode levar a insights valiosos.
Uma parte essencial da obra é dedicada às etapas que compõem a estrutura do pensamento produtivo, que são apresentadas como um processo sistemático: começa com a identificação clara do problema, seguida pela geração de várias ideias, análise das soluções possíveis, seleção da melhor opção e finalizando com a implementação efetiva da solução escolhida. O autor ressalta a importância de criar um plano de ação realista durante esse processo, algo que pode aumentar as chances de sucesso na aplicação das soluções encontradas.
O texto enfatiza a flexibilidade do método, que deve ser ajustado conforme as necessidades específicas de cada situação. Além disso, o autor adverte sobre os perigos de buscar soluções criativas de forma apressada, pois isso pode resultar em ideias inadequadas e desperdício de tempo, sugerindo que o processo demandará paciência e reflexão.
A prática contínua do pensamento produtivo é destacada como fundamental para o seu aprimoramento, tornando essa forma de pensar cada vez mais automática. O autor incentiva os leitores a identificarem áreas em suas vidas onde podem aplicar essas técnicas, testando-as em diferentes contextos para melhorar gradualmente suas habilidades criativas.
August 11, 2021
This process is quite comprehensive. This is not a book you just read, but you use as you read it. Having finished it, I'm still working my way through the a few more iterations of step 5, and have a step 6 brainstorming session scheduled.
What I can say from my experience so far is that there is enormous power in the "Imagined Future" exercise. It is based on some of the earlier steps, but that is the part that has helped me refine and define what success is for me, and to have a vision that I love so much that I want to wake up every day to make it happen.
The ideas you come with out of this will not be standard, not be what has been done before, not be what you see everyone else do. This is a way to create revolutionary ideas, and executing that can be quite terrifying, if you, like me, can be brought down by a fear of success. My fear of success is why this book has taken me so long to read (it's not a very long book, and it's fairly easy to read). I could feel the possibilities of what it offered, and so I avoided it. But I am trying to face that fear, and that is why I have finished this book today, and looking to put into place my own revolutionary idea.
What I can say from my experience so far is that there is enormous power in the "Imagined Future" exercise. It is based on some of the earlier steps, but that is the part that has helped me refine and define what success is for me, and to have a vision that I love so much that I want to wake up every day to make it happen.
The ideas you come with out of this will not be standard, not be what has been done before, not be what you see everyone else do. This is a way to create revolutionary ideas, and executing that can be quite terrifying, if you, like me, can be brought down by a fear of success. My fear of success is why this book has taken me so long to read (it's not a very long book, and it's fairly easy to read). I could feel the possibilities of what it offered, and so I avoided it. But I am trying to face that fear, and that is why I have finished this book today, and looking to put into place my own revolutionary idea.
Read
November 5, 2021I can't say that I agree with the quote, "Training, as practiced in much of corporate America, is an astonishing waste of time." (Hurston, 236 & 239.) If that's the case, then it's not being utilized correctly.
August 24, 2022
a thought process on how to improve yourself / organisation. the challenge is, the process itself may takes valuable time to improve ourselves. hence the word over planning spring to mind.
September 17, 2023
Starts great, but develops to a ‘guide’ with a lot of tools, that partially feel artificial to me..
April 26, 2014
One of the most practical books I've ever read. So impressed that I bought copies for all of our team members at work! Wish I would have read this when I first started working.
We all want to find answers. The problem is, we don't find the right answers until we ask the right questions. Hurson does a brilliant job of laying out key questions and ways to approach problem solving in constructive ways. By simply applying some of these key questions, the quality of the think tank process takes a huge leap forward.
We all want to find answers. The problem is, we don't find the right answers until we ask the right questions. Hurson does a brilliant job of laying out key questions and ways to approach problem solving in constructive ways. By simply applying some of these key questions, the quality of the think tank process takes a huge leap forward.
June 19, 2016
A very solid book that describes a framework how to think productively.
From the articulated methods of understanding the real problems, through the creative process of generating solutions, and how to incubate them to improve them, then finally how to align resources to tackle them, the book leads the reader through the full thinking process.
In general, a great advice for me was the deliberate separation of creative and critical processes, and K enjoyed the good acronyms for the various thinking tools (3i, DRIVE, POWER, EFFECT).
A worthy read for engineers and project managers.
From the articulated methods of understanding the real problems, through the creative process of generating solutions, and how to incubate them to improve them, then finally how to align resources to tackle them, the book leads the reader through the full thinking process.
In general, a great advice for me was the deliberate separation of creative and critical processes, and K enjoyed the good acronyms for the various thinking tools (3i, DRIVE, POWER, EFFECT).
A worthy read for engineers and project managers.
September 19, 2010
I chose to read this book for a learning requirement at work. Little did I know how intriguing it would become once I started reading it. Hurson is a talented writer. And his ideas are easy to grasp. I enjoyed the book quite a lot. Will I use any of the techniques or concepts in the book? Perhaps. Using his Productive Thinking Model to the fullest would take quite a commitment in the organization. The key for me is determining which of the concepts I could apply.
February 11, 2012
A very good book, with regard to the concept and tools. It is somewhat business-wise especially when he speaks about planning and assigning resources.
It is very verbose when telling examples and this was somewhat lengthy and distracting.
The naming of the tools and steps was somewhat fabricated to match English words.
It is very verbose when telling examples and this was somewhat lengthy and distracting.
The naming of the tools and steps was somewhat fabricated to match English words.
February 14, 2012
Has some good methods on how to generate new ideas (the usual brainstorming information where you generate ideas without judging them until later) and how to evaluate them. I didn't find much new material in here though, most of it seemed familiar, so I wouldn't say this broke any new ground.
November 16, 2013
Sem dúvidas é um bom livro e, tem todo o seu mérito por conta de uma explicação bem detalhada do MPP (Método do Pensamento Produtivo), mas, no entanto, à partir de uma certa altura se torna um pouco repetitivo.
March 10, 2015
Some good tools in here for improving your thinking processes, breaking out of the grip of Confirmation Bias, etc. Many of these techniques are described in other books and have essentially been organized into a "system".
March 25, 2008
First noted in Anu Garg's A Word A Day E-mail it lives up to it's title. Creative thinking is cool.
June 3, 2008
AWESOME book! Bought a copy for my dad
September 14, 2008
This is a very good book on taking brainstorming to the next level.
January 26, 2020
Looking forward to reading this one.. Its on my shelf :)
May 26, 2010
Highly recommended - best business book I have read on how to think outside of the box to see problems in a deeper light. Real world hands on application. I have used it with great success
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews