A Whack on the Side of the Head
A Whack on the Side of the Head is a book on creative thinking written by creativity consultant, Roger Von Oech. The book examines many aspects of creativity and tells us of the various modes of thinking, approaching problems and behaviour (Mental locks as per the book) that inhibit our creativity and keep us from creating and acting upon good ideas. The 256 page book is helpful for individuals who want to be creative and generate ideas to improve their personal and professional lives, as well as businesses that want their employees to be more creative in solving problems and providing useful ideas that contribute to the growth and profit of the business.
A Whack on the Side of the Head is an enjoyable read and features many amusing and thought provoking quotes, anecdotes and stories which explain the various ideas and theories of creativity that the author puts forth. The author also shares many personal stories and experiences he has had as a creative consultant to many large companies. It is also interspersed with many small exercises that allow the reader to indulge his thinking and examine his creative capabilities. The book explains creative thinking using real life examples that are easy to relate to, and nowhere is the book hard to understand or technical, as the language is simple, friendly and easy to understand. The artwork is also worth mentioning as it is quirky, charming and funny.
Although it is a great book and a delightful read, the book doesn't have anything that will immediately make you more creative. There is no method or magic formula that you can immediately put into practice to see great results. However the book will definitely give you insights that may lead you to change your thinking habits for better effectiveness, which will surely improve your creative thinking and idea generation capabilities in the longer run.
19.03.2009. 03:33