How to be a Brilliant Thinker: Exercise Your Mind and Find Creative Solutions

by Paul Sloane

Do you want to have great ideas? Do you want to break out of the rut of conventional thinking? Would you like to be a genius? Would presenting brilliant ideas help in your job, career and social life?

How to be a Brilliant Thinker will help you to achieve all these ideals, by helping you to think in powerful new ways. It shows you how to harness techniques in lateral thinking, analytical thinking, problem analysis, idea generation and other areas so that you become much more creative. You will be able to conceive, evaluate and implement great ideas as well as improve your memory, sell your ideas and win arguments. It is packed with practical methods that you can put to immediate use, backed up by exercises, puzzles, quizzes, graphics and illustrations.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Psychology

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Paul Sloane read Engineering at Trinity Hall Cambridge. He came top of Sales School at IBM, became MD of Ashton-Tate UK, VP International for MathSoft and CEO of Monactive. He now writes, speaks and gives workshops on lateral thinking in business, creativity, innovation and leadership. He is married and lives in Camberley in Surrey. He has three grown-up daughters. He is a keen chess and tennis player and he plays keyboards in a rock band, the Fat Cats. He has written a series of lateral thinking puzzle books, many co-authored with Des MacHale, published by Sterling Publishing. They have sold over 2 million copies and been translated into many languages. He has also written two management books, published by Kogan Page, and many articles for blogs and websites. He manages the Lateral Puzzles Forum where puzzlers can set and solve lateral puzzles.

Reviews

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unkind would describe this as a puzzle book packaged up as a serious attempt to make us, the people, use our brains better and more effectively. The unkind would be wrong. This book is an effective way of boosting the capabilities of your brain using relatively simple techniques. These techniques are designed for the reader to question perceived ways of thinking in order that more creative and appropriate solutions are found to problems.

Anyone who has had children will know that the most difficult question that you can be asked as a parent is ‘Why?’. Most of us will trot out the standard answers, but this book will allow you to think that there are different ways of doing things.

From getting you to be a better conversationalist, to being able to grapple with previously daunting maths problems this book promotes a different path. It says that the brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised similar to other muscles in the body, and that repetitive thinking will only hasten its decline.

By following the simple techniques identified in this book, Paul Sloane is trying to get us to be better people; to be the people that we know are inside us; people that we want to be.

‘How to be a Brilliant Thinker’ is essential if you want to be more than you are, and are not afraid to think outside the box to achieve it. If you don’t know how to do this, then Paul Sloane’s book will tell you how. It is to its credit that I have tried some of his techniques and although I still cannot tell jokes, I am trying. This is a book that can literally enhance lives.

[Ami Iida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to train the thinking.
They have preached a method of utilizing many frameworks of thinking .
It has summarized them systematically.

They help terrifying.

[Xiv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since I was rejected by my dream institution with the reason for decline "That you lack lateral thinking we seek for". I have read up countless of books on how to develop this thinking ability I lack.

This book contains many repetitive techniques and explanations that other books mentioned, however with its up to date examples it would be a good book for youngsters to relate to.

I know I did.

[Mohamed Alsaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great when you want to change and develop your life.Many effective strategies to have in your mind. the book demonstrates many concepts to ignite your mind and start thinking and solve your problems.you can read it many times.

[Sambasivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a compilation of ideas from quite a lot of brain boosting books. The author has painstakingly distilled the essence of these ideas and presented in an easily digestible manner. Each of the books referred to is a classic by Itself and well worth an independent rigorous study. This could become a life changing read for someone who religiously puts these ideas into practice, which by the way is not an impossible task.

[Damarjiwo]

Book recommendation for all of you who want to improvise your brain with various thinking way; divergent, convergent, lateral, analytical, visual, verbal, conceptual, and many more. Through this book, the writer want to tell us how great our brain is. Many effective strategies you can find in this book, and implement to your daily life.
Book will never be wrong investment.

[Abrar Al-sudani · Rating 4 out of 5]

النسخة العربية: كيف تكون مفكرا متألقا

كتاب عملي جدا يحوي عدد من التطبيقات و الأفكار

[Alireza Hejazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a guide for anyone looking to improve their critical thinking skills. It is well-written, easy to understand, and provides practical tips and exercises that can be applied in everyday life. It is an exploration of how to think strategically and solve problems. It covers critical thinking and problem solving from the ground up, from psychology and the physiology of thinking to practical application. The book offers many helpful examples and exercises, along with the author’s advice and experience, to help the reader develop better problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. It appears to be a useful resource for individuals looking to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills.

[Thrishitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book which actually can change the way we think regarding academic or non academic things . The language of the author is so clear to understand but the problem is that the author did not mention any example and this book is like a lesson instead of a book . Regarding my views i think that the author would have taken an example in his real life or outside lives to make us more clear to how to be a brialliant thinker

[Carlos Otero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Éste es un buen libro que consolida técnicas para generar ideas, distintas a las que habitualmente usamos: pensamiento divergente vs. convergente, el pensamiento lateral, pensar en los opuestos, etc. Es una buena referencia para tenerla disponible, y adquirir buenos hábitos que nos permitan desarrollar nuestra forma de pensar y analizar distintos temas así como tener una buena salud de nuestro cerebro, evitando enfermedades que se presentan con la edad.

[Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب مفيد يمكنك تصفحه وأخذ ما ينقصك مثل أساليب تقوية الذاكرة الخرائط والكثير

[Aksena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Неймовірна книга для тих, хто хоче навчитись генерувати ідеї і взагалі розвивати мозок.
Також ця книга просто про вміння мислити. Вважаю що має прочитати кожен.

[David Lillico · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a self improvement, life style book than the elected problem solving, some really good ideas brought together to give you a full plan

[Abby Epplett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book offers nothing new, recycling tips and stories that can be found elsewhere.

[Alli Robles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buen libro, fácil de leer y buenos tips.

[Krishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the first self-help books I have ever read. I still apply many methods mentioned in the book till this day.

[Lily Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it more than I expected. Even though lots of things I read or knew (but couldn’t execute) from somewhere else, I still learned some important new things here, and I’m gonna give it a try!

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do the brilliant.
Imagine stuff.
What if ...?

[Tanvika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sloane cleared a major myth that is validated repeatedly in the society: creativity is exclusive gift from above given to few'. It's a skill that can be excelled overtime. anyone can generate crazy ideas like combining clockwork and radio. The techniques suggested are easy to apply and does make the practitioner add different lenses to a assumed linear universe.

Some of the methods are well known but not used correctly : constant questioning, mind maps, brainstorming. I was particularly attracted by the ' six thinking hats' which can minimize cognitive biases in group decision making. The chapter on Thinking Errors is very important. Errors like cognitive bias, gamblers fallacy, mistaking the cause, excess information etc are discussed in a practical manner to make us aware about the mistakes we commit even without being aware. In communication, the author focuses specifically on listening. It is to be immersed in what is being said without evaluation and then asking the right questions.

The book is reader friendly, inspiring and motivates you to further experiment. I was compelled to start trying lateral puzzles to beat the narrow, lopsided perspectives that ail the mind subjected to excessive vertical thinking.

[Mr.Hisham AL-sayigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

أنصح بقرائة الكتاب لايأخذ وقت في قرائته ..

كتاب ممتاز لتعلم بعض قواعد التفكير والجميل تستطيع تصفح محتويات الكتاب وأختيار الجانب الذي تسد به نقصك يعنى بالفكرة من أغلب جوانبها ....
# أشياء راقت ليي بالكتاب
1- أساليب تقوية الذاكرة بطريقة صنع روابط بصرية ..
2- كيف تضع أهدافك وتكتبها بطريقة مصنفة مثال: العمل,العلاقات,الصحة ..
3- لابأس بألانعرف..
4- لاتنتظر الكمال وأنظر للتحسين المتواصل ..
اطلعوا عليه وستعجبوا بكثير من أفكاره ..

الخلاصة :
يحتاج المخ الى(التمرين,التحفيز,الأستثارة)
تذكر دائما المفكرين العباقرة دائما يطرحون الأسئلة فابدأ بذلك .......

الســيد هشام بن أحمد.

[Alfian Taka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pertama kali gw baca buku ini, tentu saja gw sedikit kesusahan dikarenakan bahasanya yang baku.

Buku yang terdiri dari 32 bab ini berisi tentang cara berpikir yang hebat dan brilian. Ada banyak cara berpikir yang dibahas dalam buku ini. Berpikir verbal, visual, konvergen, divergen dan lain sebagainya.

Dari 32 bab yang ada, bab Berpikir Positif lah yang sangat gw sukai. Karena sekarang ini gw juga lagi melawan pikiran negatif yang ada dalam diri gw. Dan juga, ngebayangin kalo gw berhasil mencapai tujuan gw. Entah, itu kayak ada energi positif nya tersendiri.

Banyak sekali hal2 baru yang gw dapatkan dari buku ini yang ga bisa gw tulis semua karena nanti akan sangat kepanjangan.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly quick read. Contains many of the tips from ThinkerToys, and a few others as well. I found most useful the list of common thinking errors. A few good tips on idea selection (don't be too quick to rule out extremes; don't be too critical with your ideas too early on), and leadership (only be the first to speak if you want to sway your subordinates; Ask friendly questions and maintain amicable body language when you come across ugly situations.)

[Ko Matsuo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Sloan's point is to keep people from jumping to premature conclusions. Instead of merely looking for evidence that supports preset beliefs, the author promotes divergent thinking (as opposed to convergent thinking), asking questions, and spending time in problem analysis. A nice wake up call.

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Against my better judgement, I bought this hoping to learn something new. This book is nothing but a bunch of life hacks wrapped up as a pop-psychological book.

Its safe to assume - >If you see a title promising to offer something too good to true, it is probably safe to stay way from it.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book overviews useful bunch of practical tools to change your mind, however, to implement them into your daily routine your need more effective methods. Whatever it'll be interesting for everyone who want to develop different type of thinking)

[Arya Wirasandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will teach you, how to be brilliant thinker, actually this is collection of several well-know methods which are divergent thinker, verbal method, improve your memory until how to feeding your brain and also there is arithmetic logic which is teach you about how important math is.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

exercise your mind and find creative solutions

[Amos Muturi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is awesome for those doing critical thinking!

[Dina Maulina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very deep

[Janiarto Pawa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku yang komprehensif membantu kita untuk menjadi berpikir atau pemikir yang lebih baik.