ThinkerToys - Michael Michalko

KEY INSIGHTS:

1. If you break down a problem to find a solution for parts of the problem and you’ll
find a solution for the problem as a whole.

2. It’s important to look at a situation using an infinite amount of different views to

find ways to improve it rather than using the obvious problem-solving techniques.

3. You can never reach “too great” – always strive for more and better.

4. Think futuristically to find undiscovered goals and solutions you didn’t even realize
you wanted or could achieve.

5. You can generate any idea at any time, even if you’re starting from scratch. The
important thing is to have a problem that needs a solution, or have a goal to begin with.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

1. If a process seems broken, unnecessarily complicated, or inefficient, instead of

adjusting the entire process, you can look at the individual components to fix part of the
problem which could fix the problem as a whole.

2. Think of a possible new solution from scratch rather than dwelling on the obvious
solutions you have already found which have not been feasible.

3. A “problem” isn’t always seen as a problem. You can always improve anything and
you should never assume that something is as good as it can get.

MEANINGFUL QUOTES
- Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.
- If you act like an idea person, you will become one.
- Just do a little bit at a time and get started.
- Sometimes, assumptions seem so basic that we never think to challenge
them.
- Non experts do not have enough expertise to draw borders.
 Divided into four parts over 38 chapters, this meaty bible of creativity, deals first
with Linear Thinkertoys. Here you will find exercises that are further divided into three
groups.

Group A: False Faces, Slice and Dice, Cherry Split, Think Bubbles and Scamper. In
the words of the author, Michael Michalko, "this group reorganizes known information in
different ways by listing, dividing, combining, or manipulating it to give you new entry points
for solving problems. Proceeding from these entry points, you can jump from one idea to
another until you find the one you need."

Group B: Tug-of-War, Idea Box, Idea Grid, Toothache Tree, Phoenix, The Great
TransPacific and Storm Door Company, and Future Fruit.

Group C: Brutethink, Hall of Fame, Circle of Opportunity, Ideatoons, Clever

Trevor. This group of exercises are designed to help you break out of old, established
patterns of thought and burst into uncharted creative territory.

The second part, Intuitive Thinkertoys, covering chapters 22 to 33, focuses on

exercises that help you "tap into your unconsciousness and find the ideas that you already
have." The exercises suggested deal with relaxation and ways to clear the mind (to become
more receptive), how to use and develop the intuition, the process of incubation and idea
hatching. You will also cover analogies, how to use fantasies to generate ideas, ways of
invoking desired qualities and energies and how to access your genius through your dreams.
You'll also read about clever (but simple to use) creativity generating techniques used
by brilliant artists such as Salvadore Dali, Da Vinci or the builders of the Pyramids.

The third part, Group Thinkertoys, covering just two exercises in Chapters 34 and
35, details the classic creativity exercise: Brainstorming and the lesser known Japanese
exercise TKJ, known as Rice Storm.

Part four, Endtoys, closes up the book with Worrie Willie's Guide to Prioritizing,
MurderBoard (a way of spotting and killing off 'bad' ideas, and Backbone (a technique of
associating disparate ideas to form new ones).