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Summary of The Art of Creative Thinking 

4.5 . 24 reviews

Short summary

Creative thinking can enrich both your private and professional life in unexpected ways. In “The Art of Creative Thinking”, John Adair explains the processes involved in taking an idea from conception to its full-fledged form. He argues that the unconscious mind—the Depth Mind—autonomously carries out the processes of analyzing, synthesizing, and valuing without the contribution of the conscious mind. Also, you don’t have to be an inventor, a writer, musician, or an artist to engage in creative thinking. The ideas he shares can be applied to your life if you consider life as a journey of self-discovery that is never finished. John Adair is an author, a teacher, and a consultant advising many organizations in business, government, education, health, and the voluntary sector.

Table of content

  • Summary of The Art of Creative Thinking
  • About the author
  • What is The Art of Creative Thinking about?
  • Who should read The Art of Creative Thinking
  • Topics in The Art of Creative Thinking
first key point

The creative mind sees possibilities in already existing objects that are invisible to the less creative mind

Listen the first key point
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Creativity is the faculty of mind and spirit that enables us to bring into existence something of use, order, beauty, or significance. It starts with what already exists and is recognized when the thinker or artist has transformed the available materials into a new creation of enduring value. Creation happens in the mind and the creative must possess the skill and technique necessary to give life to what has been conceived in the mind.
Humans cannot make anything out of nothing. To create something new, you have to borrow characteristics from already existing things.
If the result is an unlikely but valuable combination of ideas or things that hitherto were not thought to be linked, then you will be seen as a creative thinker. You will have added value to the synthesis, for a whole is more than the sum of its parts. ~ John Adair
John Adair provides a fresh perspective to the creative activity of the unconscious mind. He puts this reality into context within a simple framework of mental activity in a way that no one else has done before. This framework is the analyzing, synthesizing, and valuing functions of the mind when it is thinking to some purpose.
“The Art of Creative Thinking” helps you in practical ways to become a more creative thinker.
As an individual, you will learn to:
• Develop your understanding of the creative process
• Overcome barriers or blocks to having new ideas
• Enlarge your parameters of vision
• Learn to build on ideas as well as criticize them
• Increase your tolerance for uncertainty and doubt
• Listen, look and read with a creative attitude
• Make time to thinkBecome more confident in yourself as a creative person
No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to be creative, you’re keeping the child in you alive. ~ Anon
second key point

Thinking by analogy plays a key part in imaginative thinking

Analogizing is the process of developing a solution or a new model based on an already existing object. Nature is full of models waiting to be used by inventors. Take some time to reflect on inventions that might have been inspired by the following natural phenomena:
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third key point

To be a creative thinker is to possess the power to connect the seemingly unconnected in a way that creates a new thing that solves a problem

fourth key point

Having a wide focus of attention and keen powers of observation is vital to creative thinking

fifth key point

Observation is the ability to see what is actually in front of you

sixth key point

Books are storehouses of ideas, thoughts, facts, opinions, descriptions, information and dreams

seventh key point

Keeping a notebook is a practical step that can help you record possible materials for your present or future use

eighth key point

Question your assumptions and learn to think outside the box to unleash your creativity

ninth key point

The Depth Mind — the unconscious mind — is arguably the most important element in creative thinking

tenth key point

In creative work, it is unwise to wait for the right mood

eleventh key point

Negative criticism, impatience, and not knowing when to turn away from a problem impede productive thinking

twelfth key point

Sleep helps to retrieve messages from the hidden parts of our brain

thirteenth key point

Conclusion

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What is The Art of Creative Thinking about?

Who should read The Art of Creative Thinking

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.