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Edward de Bono

Edward de Bono

38 books

creativity

What they argue

Edward de Bono is a thinker who argues that creativity is a mental muscle and a cognitive skill that can be trained through practice. He works in the territory of lateral thinking, focusing on breaking the automatic, linear patterns of the human brain to see possibilities that habitual thinking ignores.

  1. Creativity as a Skill

    Creativity is a mental muscle that can be strengthened through practice, much like a physical sport or a musical instrument. If creativity is a skill, then "talent" is merely the result of practice.

    From Creativity Workout (book)

    • Says much the same Julia Cameron — The Creative MuscleCreativity is a biological and spiritual faculty that requires regular exercise to remain sharp. When we stop using it due to fear of judgment or career demands, it…The Right to Write
    • A related idea Rick Rubin — Creativity as a BirthrightCreativity is a fundamental human capacity for making choices and living a life, not a specialized talent reserved for a few. It can be unlocked by anyone through the…Legendary Record Producer Rick Rubin On: Creativity, Habits, Self-Doubt, Intuition and Meditation

  2. The Trap of Automaticity

    The brain's tendency to use pre-established patterns to save energy treats "familiarity" as "truth." If you don't recognize that your thoughts are often just recycled patterns, you will remain stuck in the same mental ruts.

    From Free or Unfree? (book)

    • Says much the same Dan Harris — The Trainable MindThe brain and the mind are not fixed, permanent identities but are capable of being reshaped through consistent practice. This means you are not a finished product and…From Kelly Corrigan Wonders | A Conversation with Dan Harris
    • A related idea Melody Beattie — The Trap of IntellectualizationMany people attempt to use the intellect to 'explain away' feelings to avoid actually experiencing them. Beattie argues that true healing requires the emotional courage…Playing It by Heart

  3. Vertical vs. Lateral Thinking

    Vertical thinking is the process of moving from one step to the next in a logical sequence. Lateral thinking is non-sequential and involves jumping to a new starting point to explore possibilities that vertical thinking cannot see.

    From Lateral Thinking (book)

  4. Management vs. Administration

    Administration is the preservation of the current system and keeping the wheels turning. Management is the evolution of the system and changing the direction of the wheels.

    From Atlas of management thinking (book)

    • Says much the same Warren Bennis — Management vs. LeadershipManagement is the mastery of complexity, systems, and the maintenance of the status quo. Leadership is the mastery of change, vision, and the creation of a new reality.Judgment
    • Says much the same John P. Kotter — Management vs. Leadership DistinctionManagement is about coping with complexity through planning, budgeting, and staffing to ensure current systems work efficiently. Leadership is about coping with change…A force for change

  5. Convergent Thinking

    The human brain prefers the shortest path to a conclusion and seeks to "close" a problem as quickly as possible using existing mental templates. This is known as convergent thinking, which often leads to the "obvious" solution.

    From Parallel Thinking (book)

    • A related idea Al Ries — The Power of SimplicityThe human brain seeks the shortest path to understanding and is biologically wired to ignore complexity. Marketing should provide a 'mental shortcut' rather than a…Horse Sense
    • A related idea René Descartes — The Thinking Thing (res cogitans)The human mind can achieve certainty by stripping away all sensory-based assumptions to find the foundational truth of the 'thinking thing.' The act of doubting one's…Descartes

  6. The Provocative Operation (PO)

    This involves making a statement that is intentionally impossible or illogical to force the brain to find a new path. It is a primary tool for breaking a mental rut and identifying new possibilities.

    From Creativity Workout (book)

Every idea names the summary it came from. Written by a local model from this mind’s own work, never from memory.

Books 28

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