How to Think More Effectively: A guide to greater productivity, insight and creativity

by The School of Life, Alain de Botton (Editor)

We know that our minds are capable of great things because, every now and then, they come out with a brilliant idea or two. However, our minds are also unpredictable, spending large stretches of time idling or distracting themselves. This is a book about how to optimise these beautiful yet fitful instruments so that they can more regularly and generously produce the sort of insights and ideas we need to fulfil our potential and achieve the contentment we deserve. Among other things, we learn how to grasp fragile and flighty thoughts before they disappear through anxiety and fear; at what times of day to try to work and for how long; how to make use of our boredom and instincts, and how to overcome timid and predictable approaches to the largest problems. The result is an operating manual to that most wondrous, though intermittent and always baffling, organ: the human mind.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Self Help, Psychology, Productivity, Design, Personal Development

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2020

About the author

The School of Life is a global organisation helping people lead more fulfilled lives.

We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.

Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.

That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.

Reviews

[Selim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I got from the book, in short

## 1. Strategic thinking

We rarely think on why we do what we do. We make even major decisions with little forethought. Yet a little forethought can prevent a lot of pain later.

## 2. Cumulative thinking

Thoughts come in bits and pieces. If we don't note them down, they will lost in the wind

## 3. Butterfly thinking

A lot of good ideas come in shower, or in a train, or walking

Good ideas are like butterflies, they can come near when you are not consciously looking for them

## 4. Independent thinking

We are searching for wisdom in books and talks. We seem to believe that other older, wiser, cooler people already sorted things out. It is not. Your own reflection on your latest anger will provide you more insight than some brilliant writing on anger. Similar with the other emotions and human condition. You have already a lot of experience, your own life is full of insight. Dare to think for yourself.

## 5. Focused thinking

The mind seems to like to generalise. We describe things vaguely. When we say a nice person, a great job, or a fun date, well this is not false but not specific. Being vague prevents us from truly understanding people and situations. So focus, ask yourself, what I **really** mean.

## 6. Philosphical Meditation

Meditation is about feeling the moment and clearing the mind. Thinking and writing are great ways to meditate and clear mind. Asking yourself questions, thinking on them, and writing down the answers clarifies worries, dissolves hard feelings, and brings calm

For example, ask yourself
* what am I anxious about ?
* what am I upset about ?
* what am I excited about ?

The answers will reveal and clarify many untold worries, regrets, hopes and you will feel relaxed.

## 7. Mad thinking
Disregard the constraints. What would I do if couldn't fail? if I had infinite time? if money were not a concern ? What if I knew I would die this year?

## 8. Friend thinking

Listening and speaking clarifies thoughts, so taking a walk speaking with a friend is a great way to think.

## 9. Reading

The aim of reading is not to accept and agree with all we read. We should think on the material, and draw our own conclusions.

## 10. Envy

Society shames envy, yet we all feel it and don't talk about it. Whenever you feel envious, get specific. What exactly are you envious? Mostly it's just a small part of a life. Getting specific enables you to replace envy with understanding.

## 11. Analogies

Great tools, use them, yet an analogy is only partly true, so they are not to be taken too literally

## 12. Empathy
Look inside. What you understand from your own feelings mostly applies to others. Almost all people fears death and rejection, we all have regrets, mistakes, insecurities, silly moments. The ancient advice has some truth, treat others as you want to be treated.

## 13. Death

Remember death, it makes life much easier. In a dead end job? In a stuck relationship? Putting off things? Not showing kindness to loved ones? Life is short and you may not be here tomorrow morning. Do whatever you wish today.


## 14. Love
We all need to feel heard, loved, understood, respected. No one is completely foolish, and we are all foolish in some regards. Before dismissing a person or judging too harshly, remember we are all human, and to err is human.

## 15. Sceptical thinking

Even being hungry or not getting enough sleep clouds our judgement. Oour thoughts and values are changing. Imagine sincerely, what you believe might be wrong. Sleep on decisons. Don't be indecisive but not too certain either. Build a broad margin of error into your moves.

[naddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking this randomly from scribd, now I'm feeling satisfied after finishing this book.

Consists of less than 150 pages, this book explains various type of thinking that human usually does. Every concept explained in understandable words, it feels like I'm being explained by genius/pro about what's on their mind but in an enjoyable way. Each chapter also gave readers some practical tips to apply this to our thought process.

I'm not a type of person who reads "how to..." books, but this is sOo good. Def would recommend this one to everybody who wants to start their journey in reading self-help books.

[کافه ادبیات · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب چگونه کارآمد فکر کنیم یکی دیگر از کتاب‌های مجموعه مدرسه زندگی به نویسندگی آلن دو باتن است.
آلن دو باتن ابتدا ما را با ویژگی‌های طبیعی ذهن آشنا می‌کند، سپس توضیح می‌دهد که چرا فکر کردن پروسه دشواری است.
آلن دو باتن از ما می‌خواهد که خودمان را با کارهای مختلف گول نزنیم و پیش از آنکه وارد رابطه‌ای شویم یا شغلی را بپذیریم به آن‌ها فکر کنیم. این کار ممکن است نتایج تلخی هم داشته باشد و ما را ناامید و مضطرب کند، اما ارزش آن را دارد که با حقیقت مواجه شویم.

[Julius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief collection of 15 types of thinking. Short, concise, worth re-reading on a regular basis.

[عبدالرحمن عقاب · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتابٌ صغير الحجم، قليل الفائدة. يمكن اختصاره بمقال من صفحة أو اثنتين.
هو عن أنواعٍ من التفكير، ونصائح عامة في كل نوع. ولا أرى محتواه يرقى إلى مستوى السؤال في عنوانه.

[Anu Harchu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Хоёр цаг их "зугаатай" өнгөрлөө. Instagram Reel-ээр ревью хийж хуваалцав.

[Barrowsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine. A book about thinking that actually really does help you think more effectively. Who'd have thought?

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

For such a quick read, this was mostly a slog. The book discusses 15 types of thinking, from obvious ones like strategic or independent or focused thinking to things like 'mad' thinking or butterfly thinking. These are more some of the various ways to approach problems rather than a 'type' of thinking. There were some good insights and each chapter gives a strategy ('mental manoeuvre') utilizing that type of thinking. Overall, there was little new in most of this.

Quotes to remember:

The most profound thoughts we need to grapple with also have the most potential to disturb.

To maximize our insights, we should learn to make friends with moments of 'mad' thinking. A central step in 'mad' thinking is to temporarily set aside the normal (but not always wise) restrictions on our imaginations.

Changes in personal life and in society and business rarely begin with practical steps: they start as a leap of the imagination, with a heightened sense of a need for something new, be this for an invention, a piece of legislation, a social movement, or a new way to spend time with friends.

Tragedy teaches us that the most shocking events can befall the more or less innocent...Love thinking accepts a remarkable, frightening and still-too-seldom-accepted possibility: that failure is not reserved for those who are 'evil'.

[Mara Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely changes the way you think. As the title suggests.

[milan · Rating 4 out of 5]

the book has fifteen chapters, each one is dedicated to a 'type' of thinking. i had a basic understanding of some of them; others were quite eye-opening, and there were two with which i don't quite agree with.
overall, the book does a really good job highlighting the importance of each of them; why do we need them in different situations, what their advantages are (disadvantages are not shown), and at the end of the chapters, there is a 'mental maneuver' section where there are practical, clear steps you can take to 'use' the particular thinking, which i find extremely helpful (theory is often useless without irl usability)
this is the type of book you reread (look up the chapter you need) when faced with a problem in your life

[Joel Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, the School of Life offers quality content. This is difficult content is small understandable bite-size bits. The challenge when reading this book is that we want to zip through it, but to get the most of it, we must slow down and perform the exercises. The exercises is where the real work gets done and the full reflection occurs. Reading this book in this way, requires allocating some of our own time to critical thinking, which is hard and challenging.

I particularly liked the section on what we can learn from being envious.

[Matthew L · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book that encourages pursuing, recording and delving into your ideas, in turn setting up a foundation of directions and personal insights. It encourage kind and empathetic thinking patterns to yourself and others. Such a good book to see what matters to you and your own brilliant ideas.

[Henry DeForest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful read; it was incredibly concise in articulating different approaches you can take to shape your thoughts in more purposeful and effective ways. There were no huge revelations in this book, but each point is well organized and well articulated. In its total, it stands as a useful guide and series of exercises—definitely well worth the read, as it is incredibly short for the level of content it provides.

[Neal Tognazzini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short little book with mini-essays describing different ways to become a more reflective person. I love reading Alain de Botton’s writing, and this book didn’t disappoint, even though it started stronger than it finished. I’m hoping to go back through here to see if there are any parts that would make sense to assign to my Critical Thinking students.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did the audio version but will return to the written version.

[Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read sharing some interesting perspectives and ideas, with practical thought exercises too.

[Caio Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful book with many practical tips on how to think better. Forcing your mind to think, reflect, and ask better questions to truly assess the situation is really how you improve your thinking. Probably will read this book again a few times to remind myself of the teachings. Highly recommend it!

[Queenie Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Very interesting, ideas are written in a very digestible way. Should refer back to some parts, notably cumulative, independent and death thinking.

[Mirna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, enjoyable, to the point. Super beautifully written - easy and simply written yet with careful and powerful choices of words, which makes it an easy, light, joyous read. Rich in brief but insightful perspectives into our own thinking. Emposes new ideas, but even more, invites the reader to develop their own ideas. Each of the chapters ends with a practical exercise to explore in practice the new perspective on our thinking.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book randomly and bought the Kindle edition on a whim and I'm so glad that I did. This book gave some form to a whole variety of ideas I've had kicking around my mind but never could put into words or see the connections.

It's super short, but offers high-quality insights. No extra fluff, no repetitive ideas. It comes with some tips to improve the way you think about different situations, but the tips aren't super precise, which I think makes it applicable to just about anybody.

[Max Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read with enlightening information and arguments. If you're interested in reading hit me up and I'll send you the PDF

[Akhil Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fav quotes (not a review):
"But there is a paradoxical aspect to the way our minds operate: as a general rule, we’re much better at execution than at strategy."
“Pin-pointing specifics: Re-engineering our love lives will be difficult if the missing ingredient cannot be rendered any more precisely than an absence of ‘fun’. Finding a meal ‘brilliant’ doesn’t get us far in unlocking the secrets of successful restaurant visits. To work against the inertia of the mind, we need to ask ourselves further questions. We need to break down our vague first feelings into their constituent parts: what is it about ‘creativity’ that we enjoy? During what moments of our current working lives do we feel dissatisfied? When we say ‘fun’, what do we really mean? What are five experiences of fun we might recently have had? And what are their opposites? We start with generalities and, if things go well with inner questioning, we end up with finely grained truths."
"A talented artist is, first and foremost, someone who takes us into the specifics of valuable experiences. They don’t merely tell us that spring is ‘nice’; they zero in on the particular contributing factors to this niceness: leaves that have the softness of a newborn’s hands, the contrast between a warm sun and a sharp breeze, the plaintive cry of baby blackbirds. The more the artist moves from generalities to specifics, the more the scene comes alive in our minds."
"Write down what you are anxious about; find at least eight things. Each entry should be only a single word (or just a few words) at this point, under the following categories: • Work • Relationships • Children/Parents • Health • Money • Things I have to do"
"A good listener is always looking to take the speaker back to their last reasonable point, saying, ‘Yes, yes, but you were saying just a moment ago...’. Or, ‘So ultimately, what do you think it was about…’ The good listener (paradoxically) is a skilled interrupter."
"Not every friend is a good thinking friend. They might be great fun to spend time with while being hopeless at teasing out our delicate, half-formed ideas. The good listening friend is loyal not so much to entertainment or anecdote, reminiscence or gossip; they are, above all, a friend to our still not fully developed ideas."

[AB Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My recent late night writing advice reading saw a slight shift this week, toward a focus on creativity. What better place to start than with The School of Life, which consistently bangs out quality texts on engagement of the mind in line with the demands of modern-day society.

The strengths of this text are found specifically in the sections on Strategic, Independent and Focused Thinking. The section on Philosophical Meditation is also useful. Also, as each section ends with suggestions to develop each thinking style, readers are empowered to personally apply what is learned in a way that matches their own learning style. The suggestions are clear and unencumbered, avoid jargon, and focus on tangible takeaways that elucidate the efficacy of each concept.

4 stars. As expected, I walked away with several strategies and options for execution. The true benefit I’ve obtained from this book has not yet been realised; however, as I dig deeper into the reflections that engagement with this material requires, I am certain to see differences in my approach to varying tasks. Recommended.

[Jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great honestly, it taught me a lot. "How to Think More Effectively: A Guide to Greater Productivity, Insight, and Creativity" is a compelling and practical guide that excels in making complex cognitive processes accessible and actionable. The book stands out for its clear, structured approach to improving thinking skills, offering readers a variety of tools and strategies to enhance productivity, foster creativity, and gain deeper insights. The author's ability to distill intricate concepts into digestible advice is commendable, making the book suitable for both seasoned professionals and those new to the subject. Each chapter is packed with actionable tips and real-world examples, allowing readers to immediately apply what they've learned. The emphasis on both individual and collaborative thinking techniques provides a well-rounded perspective on enhancing mental capabilities.
Overall, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to elevate their cognitive processes and achieve their personal and professional goals with greater efficiency and creativity.

[Tobias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally love the school of life works and this one in particular has been so amazing that I've already bought extra copies and gifted them to others.

This book is split up in many short chapters, which can each be read in about ten minutes or so. It is thereafter worth putting the book down and thinking about said chapter for some time and learning how it might apply to oneself. If you rush this book, you'll likely miss out most of the wisdom.

Unlike many other self help resources, the wisdom in school of life's works is more often than not practical and applicable - this isn't some esoteric tome of a book that regurgitates an authors one opinion for 300 pages - this is a short and concise manual with a lot of compressed but well written thoughts.

I know for certain that this is the kind of book that I will come back to and page through in future, just to remind myself of some titbit of wisdom.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I’d want to read every year.

A quote on reading thinking: “Whatever the charms of an author with whose views we concur, nothing can quite beat the service sometimes paid to us by someone who we feel is tantalisingly off tangent; an author who starts to say something interesting, but then (in our eyes) goes off-piste; an author who hovers close to an essential point but then drops it in favour of something trivial, misguided or irrelevant. Assisted by the author’s ploughing of the intellectual landscape, our personal thoughts can germinate in authentic and vivid directions. We put down the book and find a whole portion of our own thinking revealed to us. Our argument with the author powers our own reflections. By not saying what we quite wished to hear, the author brings us into newfound contact with what we actually believe and does us the service of releasing us from our intellectual under-confidence and languor.”

[Ji Heng · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read. Thoughtful exposé of short essays on common thinking patterns and how to break out of them for a more fulfilling life.

But it felt like the essays were largely presented in silos; I’d have appreciated some attempt to draw critical connections and comparisons between their ideas.

For instance, there was a piece on ‘independent thinking’ encouraging confidence in one’s ability to ideate without being too concerned about aligning or referencing it to scholarly research or past ideas. Then another piece, ‘reading thinking’, making a case for the usefulness of literature in informing and inspiring one’s thinking on topics of interest.

While the two pieces don’t exactly contradict each other, I would be interested to know how to reconcile and synthesise the two ideas meaningfully, but unfortunately the book did not shed light on such nuances. A shame!

[Shams Ul]

It is amazing what you can achieve when you change the way you think. That means thinking about why you do things, and not just how – you should always take the time to assess your ideas and goals. It is also important to accept that thinking develops in fits and starts; novel ideas are hard to pin down. You can try a few tricks to think more effectively, like distracting yourself a little, identifying the roots of your envy, and reflecting on death. But whatever you do, stay skeptical. In other words, keep on thinking. To remember these ideas, consider BE DEAD.

To read more in detail about the above concepts before buying the book, click here: https://calibratedmeasures.blogspot.c...

[Girish Kohli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read alone as well as with a friend.
I read this book along with my friend and we had lengthy discussions on some of the subjects in this book.
It introduced me to new perspectives on topics like Envy, Independent thinking and Skepticism.
This is a must read for those looking for a deep insight into their own thoughts as well as for those who are looking to evolve their thought process.
I felt the language was a little tedious in some places. Sentences were longer than they needed to be.
Eventually, I feel they could have added a few more topics like "Situational thinking" and "Cultural thinking".
This is also one of those books that must be read again immediately after completing it.

[Paricha duangtaweesub · Rating 5 out of 5]

A useful provocation that questions the way I’m thinking about myself, my work, my life. I could almost hear Alain de Botton’s voice as I read each reassuringly positive chapter. “Independent thinking” gave me more confidence about my own views and opinions than I thought any 10 pages of anything could; “Reading thinking” and “Philosophical meditation” are particularly useful for the community of introspectors that I’m building; “Envious thinking” is surprisingly detailed and very clearly meaningful to people who every doubted themselves on social media. I appreciate very much how this short read - a checklist, really - encouraged me to look inside myself and start change by simply thinking differently.