A Whack on the Side of the Head
by Roger von Oech
The 1983 classic on mental locks that block creativity: the right answer, that's not logical, follow the rules, be practical, play is frivolous, that's not my area, avoid ambiguity, don't be foolish, to err is wrong, I'm not creative. It is playful, illustrated and still useful for loosening habitual thinking.
Read it if…
you want a light, playful introduction to creative thinking.
Skip it if…
you want a technique catalog; see Thinkertoys.
Three things you will actually use
- Look for the second right answer.
- Rules are tools; break them on purpose sometimes.
- Play is how ideas are found.
Do this first
Pick one mental lock you recognize and deliberately violate it on a current problem.
Our verdict
Playful and durable.
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