summary ofLateral ThinkingBook by Edward de Bono, PhD

first KEY POINT

If insight is magic, we are magicians

George Land, a general systems scientist, prepared a creativity test to assist NASA in hiring talent. It became so successful that in 1968 he offered it to 1,600 five-year-old kids. A huge 98% of them passed it with flying colors. When the children reached age ten, the researcher reassessed their skills. This time 30% passed the test. At age 15, participants sat for the test again and only 12% did well. As George Land concluded, we are born inventive. Yet the more we master non-creative behavior, the less we think outside the box.Is this replacement irreversible? The answer depends on our beliefs. If we only wait for creativity or insights, the chances of getting them are slim. Instead, we should realize that these skills result from lateral thinking. Its main goals are questioning patterns and generating new ideas.

The need to weaken some assumptions doesn't mean they are wrong or unnecessary. Our logical thinking is an indispensable tool for our survival. It's inconceivable to categorize the world “from scratch” daily. Yet patterns have some drawbacks. One of the most crucial ones — they limit how we view things. With time, we get used to a particular way of dealing with problems or a route for driving and keep other options on margin. However, the conventional approach doesn't equate to the most effective one.

The good news is that we can overcome these limitations. The following sections will show you how.