Overcome any obstacle to creativity

Description

The overall purpose of the book is to present (1) the best science on creativity and innovation in the most practical way possible and (2) a new way of teaching called the Nonsense Method, which relies on humans' incredible ability to create sense out of apparent nonsense and have fun while doing it. The central theory of the book, the Obscure Features Hypothesis for Innovation (OFH), is the first approach to innovation that yields effective counter techniques to all known cognitive obstacles to innovation. The OFH states that any creative solution is built upon at least one commonly overlooked (i.e., obscure) or new feature of the problem. Each chapter ends with puzzles that relate to the cognitive obstacle and counter technique discussed in the chapter. Two hints and a solution for each puzzle are given at the book's end. The Nonsense Method of Teaching focuses upon universal puzzles that can be adapted to any subject. These universal puzzles situate vocabulary words and ideas from any subject matter in situations that need to be connected and thus made sense of.;Preface: aha moments as fireflies -- Introduction: teaching creativity? -- The nonsense method of teaching -- More nonsense in teaching -- Functional fixedness -- Design fixation -- BrainSwarming: solving problems together -- Analogy blindness -- Other blind spots around goals and assumptions -- Solving like animals -- Visual blending -- Unconscious creativity -- Evolution and creativity -- Diagnosing creative weaknesses -- Contradictions -- Unlimited features -- Back to the childlike -- Appendix: hints and solutions -- About the author.