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Outsmart The Unexpected: Grow Your Creativity The Edge-Of-Your-Seat Way
Take a Walk on the Creative Side of Your Mind!
Outsmart the Unexpected is a collection of suspense-filled, no-time-to-lose, unusual, impossible predicaments where it's up to you to figure a way out of the fix the central character ultimately finds themselves in. How will things end? - Happily? In a twist? In more of a muddle?
Use them to sharpen your ability to find creative solutions to sudden predicaments and strengthen your ability to think on your feet.
In the course of life, problems may suddenly arise and they may sometimes be things you've never dealt with before. So your mental filing cabinet of experiences and skills can only partially assist in coming up with a solution. Most of the predicaments in this book you will hopefully never encounter. You'll need to apply your creativity and work the problem in order to find a solution. You won't just be able to grab onto the familiar. You'll also have to decide where your and the character's boundaries are -- what you're capable of mentally, morally, and emotionally when faced with a situation you didn't see coming.
In some, you may need to suspend your disbelief to play along (Read that sentence one more time!). Some will make your head spin. Others may make your heart pound. Still others will make you go hmmm. But, all will stretch your brain and help you develop your creativity and ability to make successful decisions when there's little information to work with and you have to come up with a response in a hurry.
Try your hand at inventing different endings and discussing and debating the possible solutions or interesting outcomes that you came up with. Your mission in reading this book (should you choose to accept it) is to put your creativity in overdrive and start thinking in different directions searching for possibilities.
Do you think that the best solutions come from asking the right questions? Get your brain humming thinking up what those questions would be. Do you enjoy dreaming up your own endings? Let your imagination run wild.
Dive in and bring your creative side with you!
Outsmart the Unexpected is a collection of suspense-filled, no-time-to-lose, unusual, impossible predicaments where it's up to you to figure a way out of the fix the central character ultimately finds themselves in. How will things end? - Happily? In a twist? In more of a muddle?
Use them to sharpen your ability to find creative solutions to sudden predicaments and strengthen your ability to think on your feet.
In the course of life, problems may suddenly arise and they may sometimes be things you've never dealt with before. So your mental filing cabinet of experiences and skills can only partially assist in coming up with a solution. Most of the predicaments in this book you will hopefully never encounter. You'll need to apply your creativity and work the problem in order to find a solution. You won't just be able to grab onto the familiar. You'll also have to decide where your and the character's boundaries are -- what you're capable of mentally, morally, and emotionally when faced with a situation you didn't see coming.
In some, you may need to suspend your disbelief to play along (Read that sentence one more time!). Some will make your head spin. Others may make your heart pound. Still others will make you go hmmm. But, all will stretch your brain and help you develop your creativity and ability to make successful decisions when there's little information to work with and you have to come up with a response in a hurry.
Try your hand at inventing different endings and discussing and debating the possible solutions or interesting outcomes that you came up with. Your mission in reading this book (should you choose to accept it) is to put your creativity in overdrive and start thinking in different directions searching for possibilities.
Do you think that the best solutions come from asking the right questions? Get your brain humming thinking up what those questions would be. Do you enjoy dreaming up your own endings? Let your imagination run wild.
Dive in and bring your creative side with you!
- GenresNonfictionWriting
142 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2009
2 people are currently reading
1037 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 13, 2009
It is almost impossible to rate this book because there is nothing to compare it with that I know of. It is sui generis. It is not really for a read. Rather, it is intended for a group of people to read and then hash over ideas. It is a series of vignettes of people placed in difficult to impossible situations. Then, after the situation is described, the reader is instructed "Start solving"
Now this is not a textbook on creative thinking either. A textbook with the aim of teaching you how to solve a problem would provide more data in each case study and also discuss ways to attack a problem, weigh data, and apply logical reasoning. This book does none of that, either.
Rather, it is intended to stimulate conversation. It would make a good game at a party, where selected vignettes were read aloud and attendees would have to solve what to do. I could also see this as a good book for a writing class, asking students to complete the stories.
I took off one star because in some vignettes, like the first, the reader simply isn't given enough information to proceed intelligently. One has to know more about what the scientist found that is so dangerous before one can help solve his dilemma.
I gave it four stars for originality, a book intended as a group read rather than a solo read, although I guess some people would just enjoy pondering possible solutions on their own. However, discussion would evoke far more ideas.
Now this is not a textbook on creative thinking either. A textbook with the aim of teaching you how to solve a problem would provide more data in each case study and also discuss ways to attack a problem, weigh data, and apply logical reasoning. This book does none of that, either.
Rather, it is intended to stimulate conversation. It would make a good game at a party, where selected vignettes were read aloud and attendees would have to solve what to do. I could also see this as a good book for a writing class, asking students to complete the stories.
I took off one star because in some vignettes, like the first, the reader simply isn't given enough information to proceed intelligently. One has to know more about what the scientist found that is so dangerous before one can help solve his dilemma.
I gave it four stars for originality, a book intended as a group read rather than a solo read, although I guess some people would just enjoy pondering possible solutions on their own. However, discussion would evoke far more ideas.
January 4, 2013
This book is a great opportunity to work with a teen program on thinking quickly. I thought of several book talks or teen reading programs (that's the librarian in me) where I used this book to engage students in thinking quickly about tense, crazy situations, and how to best get out of a bad situation. I'm glad I received this e-book. I intend to reread it for future activities.
August 10, 2013
"Outsmart the Unexpected" was more than exciting to read. Each story had it's own little twist that the reader was forced to question themselves with. With every situation, one will find out more about themselves which is inspiring and a a touch unnerving.
What an interesting and creative way to analyze things. Plus, it would be great fun for a party.
What an interesting and creative way to analyze things. Plus, it would be great fun for a party.
September 6, 2013
I received this from Library Thing to read and review. The concept behind this book is an interesting one. However, I think this is a book that will bet be used by groups. I am not convinced that one person, reading this book will really go through the exercise as the author probably hoped. The situations the author presents, though interesting, are pretty far-fetched. I had difficulty imagining someone actually going through situations as described and developing creative solutions. I think it might have helped the book if the author had included some discussions about possible solutions. The appendix lists some possible ways to use the book, but, until I reached that point in the book, I missed something because I had not realized the author expected this book to be more than something one reads and tries to develop some sort of solution for. The book will stimulate thought and/or discussions, but, while some of the situations were realistic, many were way beyond that and not as appealing to me.
June 4, 2014
I don't even know where to start when it comes to what an incredible concept for a novel that this is. I am not a creative person, but I love mysteries and thrillers. Well, this book wraps all of that up in to mini-scenarios and then challenges you to figure out what to do to get out of that situation. It was an absolute blast! By the end, I can honestly say that I had improved my creativity by leaps and bounds. A little secret--My husband and I would each read the same chapter, and then we would debate, discuss, and try to out maneuver each others endings. So. Much. FUN!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see what this author comes out with next!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews