33 Books like Lateral Thinking

Serious Creativity

by Edward de Bono • 1992

Make creativity a skill, not an accident: the deliberate techniques for thinking sideways.

3.81

524

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 💡 Idea Generation 🏗️ Structured Creativity 🔓 Breaking Mental Patterns 🧠 Conceptual Thinking

Serious Creativity 98%

Make creativity a skill, not an accident: the deliberate techniques for thinking sideways.

by Edward de Bono 1992

3.81

524 ratings

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 💡 Idea Generation 🏗️ Structured Creativity 🔓 Breaking Mental Patterns 🧠 Conceptual Thinking

Think Out of The Box

by Som Bathla • 2019

Ten ideas in ten minutes: how daily quotas, boredom, and non-expert input train the creative mind.

4.13

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 💡 Idea Generation 🎯 Creative Habits ⏳ Incubation Theory 🧠 Cognitive Flexibility

Think Out of The Box 98%

Ten ideas in ten minutes: how daily quotas, boredom, and non-expert input train the creative mind.

by Som Bathla 2019

4.13

67 ratings

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 💡 Idea Generation 🎯 Creative Habits ⏳ Incubation Theory 🧠 Cognitive Flexibility

The Creative Thinking Handbook

by Chris Griffiths • 2019

A step-by-step system for solving business problems creatively, on demand and on deadline.

3.79

163

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 💡 Business Innovation 🧱 Structured Creativity 🔄 Creative Process ⚠️ Thinking Traps

The Creative Thinking Handbook 98%

A step-by-step system for solving business problems creatively, on demand and on deadline.

by Chris Griffiths 2019

3.79

163 ratings

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 💡 Business Innovation 🧱 Structured Creativity 🔄 Creative Process ⚠️ Thinking Traps

Zig Zag

by R. Keith Sawyer • 2013

Creativity is trainable, not magic. Eight habits that turn scattered ideas into finished work.

3.90

375

🧠 Creative Process 💡 Idea Generation ❓ Problem Finding 🔀 Lateral Thinking 🎯 Deliberate Practice

Zig Zag 97%

Creativity is trainable, not magic. Eight habits that turn scattered ideas into finished work.

by R. Keith Sawyer 2013

3.90

375 ratings

🧠 Creative Process 💡 Idea Generation ❓ Problem Finding 🔀 Lateral Thinking 🎯 Deliberate Practice

Creativity and Problem Solving

by Brian Tracy • 2014

Creativity is a trainable skill, not a lucky accident. The methods for producing ideas on demand.

3.87

367

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 💡 Innovation Strategies 💭 Idea Generation 📋 Structured Brainstorming ❓ Questioning Techniques

Creativity and Problem Solving 97%

Creativity is a trainable skill, not a lucky accident. The methods for producing ideas on demand.

by Brian Tracy 2014

3.87

367 ratings

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 💡 Innovation Strategies 💭 Idea Generation 📋 Structured Brainstorming ❓ Questioning Techniques

The Creative Mindset

by Jeff Degraff • 2020

Six skills that unlock creativity, drawn from thirty years inside innovation labs.

3.75

122

💡 Innovation Methods 🧩 Design Thinking 🔗 Analogical Thinking 📖 Storytelling For Business 🧠 Structured Brainstorming

The Creative Mindset 97%

Six skills that unlock creativity, drawn from thirty years inside innovation labs.

by Jeff Degraff 2020

3.75

122 ratings

💡 Innovation Methods 🧩 Design Thinking 🔗 Analogical Thinking 📖 Storytelling For Business 🧠 Structured Brainstorming

A Whack on the Side of the Head

by Roger Von Oech • 1973

Creativity is blocked not by lack of talent but by rules you forgot you were following.

3.95

3k+

🧠 Creative Thinking 💡 Innovation Methods ↔️ Lateral Thinking 🧱 Mental Blocks 🎨 Creative Process

A Whack on the Side of the Head 97%

Creativity is blocked not by lack of talent but by rules you forgot you were following.

by Roger Von Oech 1973

3.95

3k+ ratings

🧠 Creative Thinking 💡 Innovation Methods ↔️ Lateral Thinking 🧱 Mental Blocks 🎨 Creative Process

Ideaflow

by Jeremy Utley • 2022

Every winner hides behind 1,999 failures. A daily quota and rapid-test pipeline for closing the gap.

4.08

410

💡 Idea Generation 🎨 Design Thinking 🏗️ Innovation Strategy ⚡ Rapid Experimentation 🧠 Creative Habits

Ideaflow 97%

Every winner hides behind 1,999 failures. A daily quota and rapid-test pipeline for closing the gap.

by Jeremy Utley 2022

4.08

410 ratings

💡 Idea Generation 🎨 Design Thinking 🏗️ Innovation Strategy ⚡ Rapid Experimentation 🧠 Creative Habits

Imagine

by Jonah Lehrer • 2012

Why cities, outsiders, and arguments produce more breakthroughs than solitary genius ever does.

3.98

55k+

🔬 Creativity Research 🔄 Creative Process 👥 Group Creativity 🏙️ Urban Innovation 👀 Outsider Perspectives

Imagine 97%

Why cities, outsiders, and arguments produce more breakthroughs than solitary genius ever does.

by Jonah Lehrer 2012

3.98

55k+ ratings

🔬 Creativity Research 🔄 Creative Process 👥 Group Creativity 🏙️ Urban Innovation 👀 Outsider Perspectives

inGenius

by Tina Seelig • 2012

Why limits spark creativity, and how a single question can change everything.

3.85

1k+

🎨 Design Thinking 💡 Innovation Culture 🔍 Problem Reframing 👁️ Observation Skills 🚧 Creative Constraints

inGenius 97%

Why limits spark creativity, and how a single question can change everything.

by Tina Seelig 2012

3.85

1k+ ratings

🎨 Design Thinking 💡 Innovation Culture 🔍 Problem Reframing 👁️ Observation Skills 🚧 Creative Constraints

Thinkertoys

by Michael Michalko • 1991

Why inspiration fails, and the repeatable techniques that produce breakthrough ideas instead.

3.98

4k+

🧠 Lateral Thinking 🎨 Design Thinking ✏️ Visual Thinking 🗺️ Mind Mapping 🌪️ Brainstorming

Thinkertoys 97%

Why inspiration fails, and the repeatable techniques that produce breakthrough ideas instead.

by Michael Michalko 1991

3.98

4k+ ratings

🧠 Lateral Thinking 🎨 Design Thinking ✏️ Visual Thinking 🗺️ Mind Mapping 🌪️ Brainstorming

Your Creative Brain

by Shelley Carson • 2013

Creativity isn't a birthright. Seven trainable brain states, and you can access any of them.

3.87

233

🧠 Creative Process 🔬 Cognitive Neuroscience 💡 Divergent Thinking 🧘 Mental Flexibility 🌊 Flow State

Your Creative Brain 97%

Creativity isn't a birthright. Seven trainable brain states, and you can access any of them.

by Shelley Carson 2013

3.87

233 ratings

🧠 Creative Process 🔬 Cognitive Neuroscience 💡 Divergent Thinking 🧘 Mental Flexibility 🌊 Flow State

Idea Mapping

by Jamie Nast • 2006

Condense any complex topic onto one page with a note-taking approach that parallels how you think.

3.68

151

🎨 Visual Thinking 📚 Learning Strategies 🧠 Brain-Based Learning 💡 Creativity Techniques 🌱 Idea Generation

Idea Mapping 96%

Condense any complex topic onto one page with a note-taking approach that parallels how you think.

by Jamie Nast 2006

3.68

151 ratings

🎨 Visual Thinking 📚 Learning Strategies 🧠 Brain-Based Learning 💡 Creativity Techniques 🌱 Idea Generation

A Beautiful Constraint

by Adam Morgan • 2004

The thing holding you back is the way forward. Here's how to see it.

3.97

699

🪴 Frugal Innovation 💡 Creative Problem-Solving 🎨 Design Thinking 🧠 Mindset Shift ❓ Strategic Questioning

A Beautiful Constraint 96%

The thing holding you back is the way forward. Here's how to see it.

by Adam Morgan 2004

3.97

699 ratings

🪴 Frugal Innovation 💡 Creative Problem-Solving 🎨 Design Thinking 🧠 Mindset Shift ❓ Strategic Questioning

The Medici Effect

by Frans Johansson • 2004

Break down the walls between fields: your idea pool explodes from 2,400 to 5.76 million.

3.92

3k+

🤝 Cross-Disciplinary Teams 🧩 Combinatorial Innovation 💡 Lateral Thinking 🔄 Learning From Failure ⚠️ Risk Taking

The Medici Effect 96%

Break down the walls between fields: your idea pool explodes from 2,400 to 5.76 million.

by Frans Johansson 2004

3.92

3k+ ratings

🤝 Cross-Disciplinary Teams 🧩 Combinatorial Innovation 💡 Lateral Thinking 🔄 Learning From Failure ⚠️ Risk Taking

Think Like Sherlock

by Peter Hollins • 2018

Sleepiness, constraints, and shifting perspective: the unconventional route to sharper thinking.

3.70

178

🧩 Creative Problem-Solving 🔀 Lateral Thinking 🧠 Critical Thinking 🏗️ Mental Models 👀 Observation

Think Like Sherlock 96%

Sleepiness, constraints, and shifting perspective: the unconventional route to sharper thinking.

by Peter Hollins 2018

3.70

178 ratings

🧩 Creative Problem-Solving 🔀 Lateral Thinking 🧠 Critical Thinking 🏗️ Mental Models 👀 Observation

Sparks of Genius

by Michele Root-Bernstein • 2000

Creative breakthroughs share a common toolkit, and it operates before language kicks in.

3.88

475

🧠 Creative Cognition 🔀 Interdisciplinary Thinking ✨ Creative Process 👁️ Visual Thinking 💪 Embodied Cognition

Sparks of Genius 96%

Creative breakthroughs share a common toolkit, and it operates before language kicks in.

by Michele Root-Bernstein 2000

3.88

475 ratings

🧠 Creative Cognition 🔀 Interdisciplinary Thinking ✨ Creative Process 👁️ Visual Thinking 💪 Embodied Cognition

Questions Are the Answer

by Hal B. Gregersen • 2018

You're answering the wrong question. A four-minute exercise that finds the right one.

3.94

517

🎯 Questioning Techniques 🔄 Reframing Problems 🏢 Organizational Culture 🛡️ Psychological Safety 🧱 First Principles Thinking

Questions Are the Answer 96%

You're answering the wrong question. A four-minute exercise that finds the right one.

by Hal B. Gregersen 2018

3.94

517 ratings

🎯 Questioning Techniques 🔄 Reframing Problems 🏢 Organizational Culture 🛡️ Psychological Safety 🧱 First Principles Thinking

The Agile Mind

by Estanislao Bachrach • 2012

Creativity is a trainable brain function. The neuroscience of building it, one exercise at a time.

3.71

2k+

🧠 Creativity Science 🧬 Neuroplasticity 💡 Idea Generation 🔀 Lateral Thinking 🚧 Creative Blocks

The Agile Mind 96%

Creativity is a trainable brain function. The neuroscience of building it, one exercise at a time.

by Estanislao Bachrach 2012

3.71

2k+ ratings

🧠 Creativity Science 🧬 Neuroplasticity 💡 Idea Generation 🔀 Lateral Thinking 🚧 Creative Blocks

Never Play It Safe

by Chase Jarvis • 2024

Why the safe route is the biggest gamble, and how to build a life you actually want.

3.86

406

🎨 Creative Business 🧭 Life Design 🎯 Attention Management ✨ Intuition Cultivation 🔄 Failure Reframing

Never Play It Safe 96%

Why the safe route is the biggest gamble, and how to build a life you actually want.

by Chase Jarvis 2024

3.86

406 ratings

🎨 Creative Business 🧭 Life Design 🎯 Attention Management ✨ Intuition Cultivation 🔄 Failure Reframing

Practical Intelligence

by Karl Albrecht • 2007

Most good ideas die unrecorded. The trainable mental skills that IQ tests never measured.

3.73

149

🧠 Mental Models 🔬 Applied Psychology 🔄 Cognitive Flexibility 💡 Divergent Thinking ❤️ Emotional Intelligence

Practical Intelligence 96%

Most good ideas die unrecorded. The trainable mental skills that IQ tests never measured.

by Karl Albrecht 2007

3.73

149 ratings

🧠 Mental Models 🔬 Applied Psychology 🔄 Cognitive Flexibility 💡 Divergent Thinking ❤️ Emotional Intelligence

The Innovator's DNA

by Jeffrey H. Dyer • 2011

One twin study says creativity is 70 percent learned. The five skills that change the odds.

3.97

5k+

🧪 Innovation Practice 🏢 Corporate Innovation 🧠 Creative Behaviors ⚡ Disruptive Innovation 🎨 Design Thinking

The Innovator's DNA 96%

One twin study says creativity is 70 percent learned. The five skills that change the odds.

by Jeffrey H. Dyer 2011

3.97

5k+ ratings

🧪 Innovation Practice 🏢 Corporate Innovation 🧠 Creative Behaviors ⚡ Disruptive Innovation 🎨 Design Thinking

The Idea Hunter

by Andy Boynton • 2011

Curiosity, observation, and rapid prototyping: a daily system for finding ideas anywhere.

3.77

585

🧱 Systematic Creativity 🔍 Curiosity Cultivation 👁️ Observation Skills 🛠️ Prototyping 📆 Daily Practice

The Idea Hunter 96%

Curiosity, observation, and rapid prototyping: a daily system for finding ideas anywhere.

by Andy Boynton 2011

3.77

585 ratings

🧱 Systematic Creativity 🔍 Curiosity Cultivation 👁️ Observation Skills 🛠️ Prototyping 📆 Daily Practice

A More Beautiful Question

by Warren Berger • 2014

Innovators share one habit: they question like children. A method for reclaiming that lost skill.

3.96

7k+

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 🎨 Design Thinking 🏢 Organizational Innovation 📚 Inquiry-Based Learning 🪞 Reflective Practice

A More Beautiful Question 96%

Innovators share one habit: they question like children. A method for reclaiming that lost skill.

by Warren Berger 2014

3.96

7k+ ratings

🧩 Creative Problem Solving 🎨 Design Thinking 🏢 Organizational Innovation 📚 Inquiry-Based Learning 🪞 Reflective Practice

The Accidental Creative

by Todd Henry • 2011

Inspiration is optional: the systems that make creative work reliable, not random.

4.06

6k+

🎨 Creative Professionals 🏗️ Structured Creativity ⚡ Energy Management 🗓️ Creative Routines 💡 Idea Generation

The Accidental Creative 96%

Inspiration is optional: the systems that make creative work reliable, not random.

by Todd Henry 2011

4.06

6k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Professionals 🏗️ Structured Creativity ⚡ Energy Management 🗓️ Creative Routines 💡 Idea Generation

A Technique for Producing Ideas

by James Webb Young • 1940

Scattered knowledge, one reliable method: an ad man's assembly line for producing ideas on demand.

4.05

5k+

💡 Idea Generation 📋 Creative Process ⚙️ Systematic Creativity 🧩 Combinatorial Creativity 📢 Advertising Classics

A Technique for Producing Ideas 96%

Scattered knowledge, one reliable method: an ad man's assembly line for producing ideas on demand.

by James Webb Young 1940

4.05

5k+ ratings

💡 Idea Generation 📋 Creative Process ⚙️ Systematic Creativity 🧩 Combinatorial Creativity 📢 Advertising Classics

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mental Models

by Peter Hollins • 2024

Da Vinci's cognitive toolkit, decoded into eleven practices any curious mind can steal.

4.05

🔬 Polymath Thinking 🧠 Creative Cognition 🔍 Curiosity Cultivation 👁️ Sensory Awareness 🔄 Cognitive Flexibility

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mental Models Summary

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mental Models 96%

Da Vinci's cognitive toolkit, decoded into eleven practices any curious mind can steal.

by Peter Hollins 2024

4.05

21 ratings

🔬 Polymath Thinking 🧠 Creative Cognition 🔍 Curiosity Cultivation 👁️ Sensory Awareness 🔄 Cognitive Flexibility

Think Smarter

by Michael Kallet • 2014

Why smart people make dumb calls: a clarity toolkit that fixes the real problem first.

3.78

372

🧩 Business Problem Solving 🧠 Mental Models 📋 Decision Frameworks 🗂️ Structured Problem Solving ⚠️ Cognitive Bias Awareness

Think Smarter 96%

Why smart people make dumb calls: a clarity toolkit that fixes the real problem first.

by Michael Kallet 2014

3.78

372 ratings

🧩 Business Problem Solving 🧠 Mental Models 📋 Decision Frameworks 🗂️ Structured Problem Solving ⚠️ Cognitive Bias Awareness

Creativity Rules

by Tina Seelig • 2017

Most ideas die between imagination and launch. A four-part cycle fixes that.

3.64

421

🧠 Design Thinking 🔧 Innovation Frameworks ⚙️ Idea Execution 🔄 Problem Reframing 🧪 Experimentation

Creativity Rules 96%

Most ideas die between imagination and launch. A four-part cycle fixes that.

by Tina Seelig 2017

3.64

421 ratings

🧠 Design Thinking 🔧 Innovation Frameworks ⚙️ Idea Execution 🔄 Problem Reframing 🧪 Experimentation

Decision Making and Problem Solving Strategies

by John Adair • 1999

A decision sequence, a creativity pause, and the three pulls that stretch every team leader.

3.27

108

🧭 Leadership Models 💡 Creative Problem Solving 🧩 Decision Frameworks 🌪️ Brainstorming Methods 🧠 Unconscious Processing

Decision Making and Problem Solving Strategies Summary

Decision Making and Problem Solving Strategies 96%

A decision sequence, a creativity pause, and the three pulls that stretch every team leader.

by John Adair 1999

3.27

108 ratings

🧭 Leadership Models 💡 Creative Problem Solving 🧩 Decision Frameworks 🌪️ Brainstorming Methods 🧠 Unconscious Processing

How to Fly a Horse

by Kevin Ashton • 2014

'Lone genius' never existed. The real story of invention is step-by-step, and anyone can follow it.

4.01

2k+

🧠 Creativity Studies 📈 Incremental Innovation 🔍 Genius Myth 🎨 Everyday Creativity 🔥 Intrinsic Motivation

How to Fly a Horse 96%

'Lone genius' never existed. The real story of invention is step-by-step, and anyone can follow it.

by Kevin Ashton 2014

4.01

2k+ ratings

🧠 Creativity Studies 📈 Incremental Innovation 🔍 Genius Myth 🎨 Everyday Creativity 🔥 Intrinsic Motivation

Insight Out

by Tina Seelig • 2015

Four stages carry an idea from imagination to impact. Skip the first, and nothing else follows.

3.78

432

🔧 Design Thinking 🔄 Innovation Frameworks 🚀 Entrepreneurial Mindset 💡 Ideation Techniques 🔍 Reframing Problems

Insight Out 96%

Four stages carry an idea from imagination to impact. Skip the first, and nothing else follows.

by Tina Seelig 2015

3.78

432 ratings

🔧 Design Thinking 🔄 Innovation Frameworks 🚀 Entrepreneurial Mindset 💡 Ideation Techniques 🔍 Reframing Problems

Elastic

by Leonard Mlodinow • 2018

The third gear your brain has been hiding: how to think flexibly when the rules change.

3.87

2k+

🧠 Cognitive Flexibility 💡 Creative Problem Solving 🔄 Adaptive Thinking 🧪 Creative Neuroscience 🚧 Mental Filters

Elastic 96%

The third gear your brain has been hiding: how to think flexibly when the rules change.

by Leonard Mlodinow 2018

3.87

2k+ ratings

🧠 Cognitive Flexibility 💡 Creative Problem Solving 🔄 Adaptive Thinking 🧪 Creative Neuroscience 🚧 Mental Filters

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