| | |  | Business Basics | Home » » Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas | | | | | | | Description: | | James Adams's unique approach to generating ideas and solving problems has captivated, inspired, and guided thousands of people from all walks of life. Now, twenty-five years after its original publication, Conceptual Blockbusting has never been more relevant, powerful, or fresh. Integrating insights from the worlds of psychology, engineering, management, art, and philosophy, Adams identifies the key blocks (perceptual, emotional, cultural, environmental, intellectual, and expressive) that prevent us from realizing the full potential of our fertile minds. Employing unconventional exercises and other interactive elements, Adams shows individuals, teams, and organizations how to overcome these blocks, embrace alternative ways of thinking about complex problems, and celebrate the joy of creativity. With new examples and contemporary references, Conceptual Blockbusting is guaranteed to introduce a new generation of readers to a world of new possibilities. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| James L. Adams | | Paperback:
| 224 pages | | Publisher:
| Basic Books | | Publication Date:
| 2001-10 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0738205370 | | Product Length:
| 8.98 inches | | Product Width:
| 6.03 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.67 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.73 pounds | | Package Length:
| 8.9 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.9 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.7 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.75 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 19 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 19 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 Cultivate Your Thinking!Mar 16, 2007
By S. Thomas
My dad gave me a copy of this book for Christmas in 1978 when I was a junior in college. I enjoyed reading it then, and I've read it numerous times since. I can say now with some length of perspective that in my opinion it's a definitive classic on this topic and I'd say it is probably the most influential single book in my engineering career. It's enabled me to think of things of that no one else does, and more often than not it's because of ideas I picked up here. The solutions are enduring too. The nine-dot problem, the ping-pong ball in the tube, the spacecraft panels opening without a damper are examples I think back to when faced with technical challenges that have no apparent easy answer.
I cringe inside when people want and push for systematic and methodical ways to solve problems. It's almost a religon to some that the pretense of an imagined rigor akin to mathematical proof will always lead them to "correct" answers. It's not that those methods are wrong but they're quite incomplete and tend to only reinforce the mental blocks you already have.
If you want to unconfine your thinking and leverage the power of both halves of your brain, then put this book in your cart, buy it, and read it.
39 of 43 found the following review helpful:
Eye and Mind OpeningFeb 07, 2000
By Robert Alan Black
James Adams' classic book, Conceptual Blockbusting, is a definite read for people who want to expand and deepen their true creative thinking skills. Since reading it many years ago I have re-read it often, then referenced it and recommended it to others in general, workshop participants plus students. Managers will benefit greatly by reading and re-reading this book to discover how they are squelching, killing or sideswiping creative thinking in the people they are responsible for managing. All others can benefit by becoming more aware of the well-structured approach he has used to depict the many varied forms of creative blocks Adams discovered during his many years of teaching. No this is not a book for those who already think they are as creative as they can be, nor is any other book actually.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Very helpfulJul 20, 2005
By A. S. Johnson
"seeking change"
I found this book to be very helpful with expanding my abilities to think creatively. I think that, as we work our way through the school mill and then on in to jobs, a lot of our natural creativity is pushed to the background. We learn to get things right - whatever right is. Making mistakes becomes bad. This book helped me recognize my own unwillingness to have what might be considered bad ideas. It helped me become a little more exploratory in my thinking.
11 of 12 found the following review helpful:
Added new insights to my thinking about creativity.Dec 09, 1998
By dennis_h_reed@compuserve.com
The time spent reading this small volume was well rewarded with new insights about creativity and the communication of ideas. My awareness was heightened as to how frequently my acquaintances and I use the same "verbal" methods to try to communicate ideas that could much more clearly be communicated visually.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Has withstood the test of time.Aug 04, 1998
I have been using this book with graduate students for more than 10 years. It is a deceptive book in its low cost and small size. It cannot be merely read; it must be experienced. Reflection about the key ideas illustrated by the exercises and how the reader can apply them to his or her life is also important. Adams incorporates theory and research as a basis for the "hands-on" experience. Some exercises do need to be up-dated (e.g., the telephone dial). I have reviewed many other books and have yet to find one to use in place of Conceptual Blockbusting.
See all 19 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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