It is written in an exemplarily clear and practical style. This chapter is indispensable for anyone who wants to setup training seminars or workshops on serious creativity.

The third part of the study is concerned with the practical application of creative thinking. The material presented here is so vast that it by far surpasses the space to discuss it in a book review, so much the more as de Bono has included his famous Six Thinking Hats brainstorming technique among sixteen other creative thinking techniques that are worth to be studied and tried out in practice. It is therefore important to emphasize what de Bono repeatedly suggests in his books, that is, to create special Concept R&D Departments that are to be created in the future for the purpose of providing new organizational concepts for the growth and expansion of any. The quality and exclusiveness of the material presented here is such that it by far outreaches the competence of a creativity manager or innovation department but on the other hand, corporate leaders or executive committees will seldom have the time and tranquil setting needed to digest the fantastic ideas and creative tools presented in this book, and to make the utmost profit out of it. Part Two is a detailed and highly elaborated analysis of the use of lateral thinking in the brainstorming process. Thus, not artistic creativity or inspirational creativity is the main field of application of de Bono’s approach to creativity, but creativity used for developing new and profitable ideas for marketing products and for succeeding in the business world.Īccordingly, the style and the language of the book are ideally suited for entrepreneurs and executives, and it provides what the author calls take-away value.Interestingly, and unlike the two predecessors, lateral thinking is now only one element among others within the ten sub-chapters that throw different lights on the important question for every innovative company: how can we find and develop new and successful ideas?

The author leaves no doubt that his approach is not destined for artists and creators, but primarily for business people.

In Part One, de Bono writes about the need for creative thinking and shows its theoretical and practical applications. However, Serious Creativity is a more elaborated study of lateral thinking in its broadest and most practical dimensions. In Serious Creativity, Edward de Bono continues the line of thought previously exhibited in The Use of Lateral Thinking and The Mechanism of Mind.

De bono serious creativity