Re-Think: How to Think Differently

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

Re-Think: How to Think Differently

Nigel Barlow's new book on everyday creativity that can be applied equally to personal or business life, to find a better or different answer to familiar problems. It is accompanied by new conference presentations and creative team sessions.

Re-Think is an ongoing project. We are collecting examples of great re-thinks, famous, or not so famous, so please email with your ideas, experiences, and comments on the book.

In 2007 we plan to hold the first Re-Think Awards. The site will be updated with more information on this, but in the meantime it would be great to hear your examples of great re-thinks. None are too big or too small to be considered – and also any ideas you have on how to run an event like this differently!

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

Review
"...a very engaging book to read..." (Easy Jet In–flight, July 2006)
"...an absolute delight...truly innovative and interesting...lively and amusing" (Start Your Business, October 2006)

"This latest book will certainly provoke thought…an entertaining read." (Bracknell News,Thurs 24th May)

Start Your Business, October 2006
"...an absolute delight...truly innovative and interesting...lively and amusing"

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

By JHR "JHR" (UK) -

This is a great book. It's based on the principle that we are all creative, but the author just doesn't leave you with this bold claim - he has many practical ways of exploring this. Also, Re-think is a useful term to describe the everyday creativity we all possess. I find myself using the expression in my life and work, along the lines, 'Hmmm.... I need to re-think this.'

Personally I found the sections on creating a more successful future through storytelling, how to trust your intuition, and the part about wakening up curiosity (about people, places, ideas) very refreshing.

Re-think suggests that you're either a creator (preferring to think 'why not?' 'what if?') or a critic ('yes, but' to everything new). This simple idea of being aware when i'm yes-butting a new perspective was worth the price of the book.

Finally, I had fun reading it! It's clear and accessible. If I have one criticism (though not of course a yes-but) it's that there is so much info. So i went back to the introduction and read the section on navigating the book and was reminded that Re-think works best when you read a chapter and then try it out.
I thoroughly recommend this to anyone with a brain!

The Inquisitor · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 772

obmar,

You wrote this:
"In 2007 we plan to hold the first Re-Think Awards. The site will be updated with more information on this, but in the meantime it would be great to hear your examples of great re-thinks. None are too big or too small to be considered – and also any ideas you have on how to run an event like this differently!"

Why use the present tense for an event that happened last year?

My suggestion of a rethink is when scientists from Xerox I believe, looked at the development of a home computer and concluded that it would only be popular among programmers and engineers and had zero appeal for the public.