Lateral Thinking - Edward De Bono

 

It would seem surreal to know that a book written in the early 70’s can have a lasting impact even today for the readers.  “Lateral Thinking” conceptualized and written by Edward De Bono is one such book from the 70’s that is relevant even today for the sheer positive impact it can have. There is no doubt that this book is the need of the hour for the school and college students. In fact, this book should be made a mandatory reading and application for school students all across the globe. It would serve for better and rational decision making.

Lateral Thinking by Edward De Bono is not a book to be read and finished at one go. Practically, that’s not possible.  The beauty of the book is that the longer you take to read and finish the book, the more beneficial it would be. In fact, the author himself recommends that the book should be taken the longest to finish. Such are the concepts and practical methods mentioned in this book that even months or even a year would not be sufficient to practice the concept of lateral thinking. The book needs to be worked out rather than just read.

So, what is lateral thinking? A more effective definition of the term can be interpreted when the concept is compared with the more traditional Vertical thinking. The chapter that presents a point on point distinction between lateral thinking and vertical thinking introduces the reader to the essentials of lateral thinking. It’s not the final outcome that matters in lateral thinking rather the number of alternative and pathways to a given problem or a point of contention.

The book has dedicated chapters on the areas of use of lateral thinking, techniques involved in lateral thinking such as generation of alternatives, challenging assumptions, innovation, suspended judgement. Each of the chapters dedicated to these topics above give not only an in depth understanding based on theory but also give numerous practical problems with which the reader or a team of readers can play along.

The chapter on the concept of “Dominant ideas and crucial factors” introduces the readers to the in depth meaning of the terms. These are terms that are present in everything we do and in everything we are involved with. But getting to analyze things through the terms of “Dominant ideas” and “crucial factors” is interesting and enlightening. The concept of “Fractionation” is one more concept discussed and played out that would intrigue the reader. How everything discussed above is present in our everyday lives is as intriguing as the concepts.

The subsequent chapters present the concepts of Brainstorming, analogies and random simulation. The chapter on Brainstorming is the most interesting among the three as that is term perhaps most of us would have heard or uttered during our work. But the inner dynamics that we often ignore have been beautifully explained.

The concepts on “Choice of entry points and attention areas” gives an interesting insight into the mind’s information processing system.

The main purpose of the book as stated by the author is how to be more creative and productive using the learnings of lateral thinking and applying it our day- to- day practical lives. All throughout the book emphasis has been laid down on the fact that the need to be right at every step is absolutely essential to logical thinking but quite unnecessary in lateral thinking. Challenging accepted concepts and notions is one of major purposes for the use and need for lateral thinking. As stated beautifully in this book, “lateral thinking is directed towards bringing about changes in ideas through insight restructuring.

The book is very technical in nature and not in the genre of fiction or non-fiction. This is more of a learning and practice book. Majority of the readers wouldn’t be able to complete the book in a predetermined time. One will have to read and then take a break and then come back again. Reading through one sitting wouldn’t be beneficial for the reader and rather reading and then introspecting about the learnings and then again coming back to take on the next concept would be more beneficial and effective.

At the end of each of the chapter, a summary conclusion about the concept has been presented. This would help the reader to understand the entire chapter through the main pointers in the summary.

An important aspect of the book that the reader would come along while reading this book is that certain concepts and principles are repeated at regular intervals throughout the book in order to hold the subject together.

The language of the book is quite different from the routine fiction and non -fiction books. Slow reading will be more effective rather than just continuous fast reading. One of the most effective ways that one can take the best out of this book is by jotting down important points that one comes across. This will enable the reader to revise the concepts in a better way at a later date.

Reading “Lateral thinking” in the current times can be a revelation as well as fun for the reader. It comes as no surprise that the author, Edward De Bono, has been an influential figure when it comes to his contribution in understanding the brain as a self -organizing system.

“Lateral Thinking” as a book and as a subject is a must- read book for children and young adults. For others, this book would open a new way of thinking along with the routine and traditional vertical thinking.