Half title page

Title page

Copyright

Table of contents

Foreword

Chapter 1 The need for different thinking

Chapter 2 Consider the opposite

Chapter 3 Confront assumptions

Chapter 4 Analyse problems

THE PATH TO THE IDEAL

WHY, WHY?

SIX SERVING MEN

LOTUS BLOSSOM

SUMMARY

Chapter 5 Ask questions

Chapter 6 Think in combinations

Chapter 7 Parallel thinking

Chapter 8 Think creatively

Chapter 9 Think laterally

Chapter 10 Think what no one else thinks

Chapter 11 Evaluate ideas

SELECTION CRITERIA

TRIAGE

GROUP EVALUATION METHODS

Chapter 12 Make difficult decisions

PAIR RANKINGS

Chapter 13 Develop your verbal thinking

GET A GOOD DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS

READ

CAPTURE NEW WORDS

WRITE, REWRITE AND EDIT

PLAY WITH WORDS

LISTEN TO YOURSELF

Chapter 14 Think mathematically

Chapter 15 Get to grips with probability

Chapter 16 Think visually

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS

Chapter 17 Develop your emotional intelligence

SELF-AWARENESS

SELF-MANAGEMENT

SOCIAL AWARENESS

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Chapter 18 Be a brilliant conversationalist

ASK QUESTIONS

LISTEN

GIVE COMPLIMENTS

USE NAMES

KEEP UP TO DATE ON TOPICAL ISSUES

BE HUMOROUS

SPEAK CLEARLY

ENJOY IT

Chapter 19 Win arguments

DOS, DON’TS AND SNEAKY TACTICS

Chapter 20 Ponder

LISTEN

SLOW DOWN YOUR LIFE

PRIORITIZE

DECLUTTER

DELAY SOME DECISIONS

INCUBATE

MEDITATE

ALLOCATE TIME FOR REFLECTION

Chapter 21 Maximize your memory

MEMORY PEGGING TECHNIQUES

THE VIRTUAL JOURNEY

MNEMONICS

REMEMBERING NUMBERS

REMEMBERING NAMES

Chapter 22 Experiment, fail and learn

Chapter 23 Tell stories

Chapter 24 Think humorously

HOW TO TELL A JOKE

Chapter 25 Think positively

Chapter 26 Set goals

Chapter 27 Prioritize and focus

HANDLING YOUR TO-DO LIST

Chapter 28 Turn thinking into action

WHY PROCRASTINATION IS DANGEROUS

ASK YOURSELF ‘WHY AM I STUCK?’

IT IS ALL RIGHT NOT TO KNOW

DON’T WAIT FOR PERFECTION

PHONE A FRIEND

REMIND YOURSELF OF THE BENEFITS

DO SOMETHING – GET INTO MOTION

SET GOALS

SHARE YOUR GOALS AND ACTIONS

PAUSE, DON’T STOP

MENTALLY REHEARSE AND THEN ACT

Chapter 29 Common thinking errors

THE AVAILABILITY ERROR

MISTAKING THE CAUSE

THE GAMBLER’S FALLACY

THE CONFIRMATION BIAS

CLUSTERING ILLUSION

Chapter 30 Boost your brain

Chapter 31 Games for brilliant thinkers

Chapter 32 Summary – a checklist for the brilliant thinker

Appendix 1 Answers

Appendix 2 References and further reading

Index