Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko

"Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Business Creativity For the 90s" by Michael Michalko is like a printed Swiss Army Knife – it’s a multipurpose collection of idea-generation techniques that should be on every innovator’s bookshelf.

If you visit any book store these days, you’ll see a wide variety of creativity and innovation-related titles. But few are as accessible and useful as Thinkertoys. The tone of this book is playful yet purposeful: author Michalko walks you through the "how-to’s" of a cornucopia of creativity exercises and techniques - plus practical examples and suggestions on how to use them. In addition, the book features many helpful and playful illustrations, giving the impression that creativity is not only a valuable executive skill to cultivate, but it can also be fun and invigorating!

Thinkertoys opens with several chapters of practical advice on why you should be creative and the basics of a creative mindset and how to cultivate it. If you’re just starting out in your search for creativity and innovation tools and techniques, you should find this section of the book inspiring and liberating. The book then swings into a wide-ranging collection of linear (left-brained) idea-generating techniques as well as a fascinating collection of intuitive and visually-oriented (right-brained) exercises.

You’ll find yourself inspired and invigorated as you read through Michalko´s compelling explanations and insightful stories, and you’ll also find yourself pulling Thinkertoys off your bookshelf on a regular basis as a practical catalyst for generating innovative new ideas.