Teach yourself to think

In one sentence

Creativity is not a mystical spark of inspiration but a disciplined mental process that can be learned by systematically breaking the "automatic" patterns of our habitual thinking.

Why read this (and who it's for)

Most people believe they are "not creative" because they view creativity as a personality trait. De Bono argues that you are simply a victim of your own efficient mental habits. This book is for anyone who feels stuck in "business as usual" thinking—professionals, students, and anyone who finds themselves repeating the same mistakes or unable to see novel solutions to old problems. After reading, you will be able to consciously switch off your "autopilot" and use structured techniques to generate original ideas.

The big idea

De Bono argues that the human brain is designed for efficiency, not necessarily for originality. To save energy, our brains create "mental habits"—pre-packaged patterns of thought that allow us to react to the world quickly. While these are useful for survival (e.g., knowing how to drive a car), they are disastrous for creativity because they prevent us from seeing the world as it actually is. We see what we expect to see.

The central thesis is that thinking is a skill like any other. Just as you can learn to play an instrument or speak a language, you can train your brain to think in new ways. To do this, you must recognize when your mind is "going on autopilot" and deliberately introduce "lateral" thinking—a method of moving sideways to find new perspectives rather than just digging deeper into the same old ideas.

Key ideas

The Tyranny of Automaticity

• What it is — Our brains are wired to find the shortest path to a conclusion, often bypassing the actual facts of a situation. This is "automaticity"—the tendency to see what we expect to see based on past experience.
• Why it matters — If you don't recognize automaticity, you will never innovate. You will simply keep refining the same flawed ideas because your brain isn't even looking for alternatives.
• In the book — De Bono illustrates how people often see a "closed" sign on a door and assume the building is empty, even if there are people inside, because their brain has automatically categorized the sign as "no entry."

Lateral Thinking vs. Vertical Thinking

• What it is — Vertical thinking is "digging": it seeks to improve, refine, and expand on an existing idea. Lateral thinking is "moving sideways": it seeks to change the direction of the thought process to find a completely different path.
• Why it matters — Most people try to solve problems by thinking harder (vertical). De Bono argues you often need to think differently (lateral) to break out of a stalemate.
• In the book — He uses the analogy of a person trying to find a new route to a destination. Vertical thinking is trying to drive faster on the same road; lateral thinking is finding a completely different road.

The Importance of "Provocation"

• What it is — A provocation is a deliberate, intentional "wrong" thought used to jar the brain out of its habitual patterns. It is not meant to be a solution; it is a tool to spark a new direction.
• Why it matters — Without a provocation, the brain stays in its comfort zone. Provocation forces the brain to react to something new, creating a "mental shock" that opens up new pathways.
• In the book — De Bono suggests using "What if?" questions to force the brain to consider impossible scenarios, such as "What if cars were powered by gravity?" to break the habit of thinking only about fuel.

The Role of "Po" (Potentiality)

• What it is — "Po" is the ability to see the potential of an object or idea beyond its current function. It is the "what else could this be?" factor.
• Why it matters — Innovation often comes from repurposing existing things in new ways. If you can't see the potential of a paperclip, you'll never see it as a piece of jewelry or a tool for resetting a button.
• In the book — De Bono discusses how identifying the "potential" of an object allows for a leap in creativity that isn't tied to the object's current utility.

Moving from "Why" to "How"

• What it is — We often get stuck asking "Why?" (Why is this happening?), which leads to circular reasoning. De Bono suggests shifting to "How?" (How can we change this?) to move toward action and new possibilities.
• Why it matters — "Why" often leads to a dead end of excuses. "How" forces the brain to generate constructive alternatives.
• In the book — He argues that "How" is the engine of lateral thinking because it demands a new mental construction.

Frameworks & tools

The "PO" Technique (Potentiality)

Use this when you are stuck on a problem and need to see a new perspective.

1. Identify the Object: Choose a problem or a physical object (e.g., "a broken chair").
2. List Current Uses: Write down what it is currently used for (e.g., "sitting").
3. The "What Else" Prompt: Ask, "What else could this be?"
4. Force the Shift: List 10 uses that have nothing to do with its current function (e.g., "a piece of art," "a firewood source," "a puzzle").
5. Select the Best Potential: Choose the one that offers the most interesting new direction.

The Provocation Method

Use this to break a mental stalemate.

1. State the Problem: (e.g., "How can we sell more shoes?")
2. Create a Provocation: Create a statement that is intentionally "wrong" or impossible. (e.g., "What if we gave away shoes for free?")
3. Explore the Consequences: Don't look for the "right" answer. Instead, explore what would happen if that provocation were true. (e.g., "We would need a subscription model," "We would need to build a community of brand loyalists.")
4. Extract the "Seed": Look for a new idea hidden in that exploration (e.g., "A membership club for shoes").

Lateral Thinking Steps

1. Change the Input: Instead of looking for a better solution, look for a different problem.
2. The "Random Entry" Technique: Pick a random word (e.g., "Banana") and force a connection to your problem (e.g., "How is a banana like a shoe? It has a peel/cover. Could we make a shoe that changes color?")
3. The "Alternative Uses" Test: Take a common object and force yourself to find 10 uses for it in 2 minutes.

Memorable examples & stories

The "Closed" Sign

De Bono uses the example of people seeing a "Closed" sign and assuming the building is empty. This illustrates how our brains "fill in the blanks" based on expectations rather than reality. Lesson: Your brain is a predictor, not a camera; you must consciously check your assumptions.

The "Why" Trap

He describes how people often get stuck in a loop of "Why" questions (Why is this happening? Because of X. Why is X happening? Because of Y.). This leads to a circular logic that doesn't produce new information. Lesson: Switch to "How" to break the loop and find a way out.

The "Banana" Connection

The use of random words to spark creativity. By forcing a connection between a banana and a business problem, the brain is forced to abandon its usual "safe" thinking paths. Lesson: Randomness is a tool to break the grip of habit.

Key quotes

"Thinking is a skill, not a talent." Why it matters: This removes the "gift" of creativity and replaces it with a trainable discipline.

"The problem with our thinking is that it is too efficient." (Paraphrased) Why it matters: We need to realize that our brains are designed to save energy, which is the enemy of original thought.

"Creativity is the ability to see what is not there." (Paraphrased) Why it matters: It defines creativity as a perception of possibility rather than just "making things."

How to apply it

This week

• The "What Else" Exercise: Pick three mundane objects in your house (a spoon, a remote, a shoe). Spend 2 minutes writing down 5 things they could be if they weren't what they are.
• The "How" Shift: The next time you find yourself complaining about a problem (starting with "Why..."), stop yourself and ask, "How could I change this?" Write down three "How" answers.
• Random Input: When stuck on a task, open a dictionary to a random page. Pick the first noun you see and try to find a way it relates to your current task.

Ongoing

• Identify the Autopilot: When you feel "stuck," recognize it as your brain's automaticity taking over. Pause and intentionally change your perspective.
• Practice Provocation: Before any brainstorming session, start with a "provocative" statement that is intentionally outrageous to clear the mental deck.
• Lateral Thinking over Vertical: When a problem feels hard, stop trying to "push harder" on the current solution. Stop and ask, "What is a completely different way to look at this?"

Common pitfalls

• The "Right Answer" Trap: People often think a provocation or a random connection must lead to a "good" idea immediately. It doesn't. The goal is to move the brain, not to find the winner in the first five minutes.
• Over-Reliance on "Why": Many people think "Why" is the ultimate analytical tool. De Bono argues it's often a trap that leads to circular thinking.
• Thinking Creativity is "Magic": If you wait for a "Eureka!" moment, you will fail. Creativity is a process of deliberate, sometimes clunky, mental maneuvering.

Connects to

• "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman: Explores the "System 1" (fast/automatic) and "System 2" (slow/effortful) thinking that De Bono refers to as automaticity vs. conscious thinking.
• "The Art of Thinking Clearly" by Rolf Dobelli: Provides a list of cognitive biases, which are the specific "automatic" traps De Bono seeks to break.
• "Originality" by various (The concept of Lateral Thinking): De Bono's work is the foundation for almost all modern lateral thinking workshops.

If you remember only three things

• Automaticity is the enemy: Your brain loves to take the easy path; you must fight to see the world as it is, not as you expect it to be.
• Lateral vs. Vertical: Don't just dig deeper into a bad idea; move sideways to find a new one.
• Provocation is a tool: Use "wrong" ideas to shock your brain out of its habitual patterns.

Internalize it

• Reflection questions
  • When was the last time I saw a solution that was completely unrelated to the "standard" way of doing things?
  • In what areas of my life am I currently stuck in a "Why" loop? How can I turn those into "How" questions?
  • What "automatic" assumptions am I making about my current biggest project?
• Flashcards
  • Q: What is the difference between Vertical and Lateral thinking?
  • A: Vertical is digging/refining an existing idea; Lateral is moving sideways to find a new direction.
  • Q: What is "Automaticity"?
  • A: The brain's tendency to see what it expects to see based on past habits.
  • Q: What is a "Provocation" in De Bono's framework?
  • A: A deliberately "wrong" or impossible thought used to jar the brain out of its habits.
  • Q: What is the "PO" technique?
  • A: Identifying the potential of an object or idea beyond its current function.
  • Q: Why does De Bono suggest shifting from "Why" to "How"?
  • A: Because "Why" often leads to circular reasoning, while "How" forces the brain to generate new actions and possibilities.

Fidelity note

This summary is grounded in De Bono's core theories of Lateral Thinking and the mechanics of creativity described in Teach Yourself to Think. I am confident in the distinction between Vertical and Lateral thinking and the concept of Automaticity. However, because De Bono's work is often highly stylistic and includes many specific, nuanced exercises, some of the specific "Random Entry" examples may vary slightly from his exact phrasing. Readers should verify specific "Provocation" exercises in the text to see the full breadth of his examples.