[.ca] Why Not?: How to Use Everyday Ingenuity to Solve ... (ISBN 1422104346)

White Caps on Gray Matter:
To me, the subtitle of Nalebuff and Ayres's book is especially significant because few of us understand how to use everyday ingenuity to solve problems big and small. So often we ask, "What didn't I think of that?" I wholly agree with Nalebuff and Ayres that we could have, had we been willing to view a given situation (need, problem, irritation, etc.) from several different perspectives. For whatever reasons, we seldom do so. That is, we see and hear what we expect because our mental "filters" perpetuate fixed mindsets. Let's pretend that you have entered the Nalebuff and Ayres Executive Hardware Store. Either Nalebuff or Ayres greets you, offering a complimentary toolbox rather than a cart to use while shopping. "If you need anything or have any questions, please let me know." You then thoroughly explore each of the store's three main departments. Problems in Search of Solutions: Tools which enable you to take the perspective of an unconstrained consumer and internalize the external effects the external effects of decision-making Solutions in Search of Problems: Tools which help you to identify "idea arbitrage" and experiment with "things the other way around" Problem Solving with a Purpose: Tools which enable you to think effectively and productively "inside the box" The proprietors realize that no visitor to their store needs all of these tools at the same time, nor will all visitors use any one of the tools in precisely the same way. The central purpose of Nalebuff and Ayres' book is to offer various "tools," then explain what each can do and how to use it properly, thereby to change "the way people think about their own ability to affect the world. Our goal is to make it natural -- even expected -- for everyone to challenge the status quo and ask, Why not do it this way instead?" They cite countless examples from a wealth of real-world experiences, many of which illustrate what I call "the invisibility of the obvious." I agree with Nalebuff and Ayres that innovation can be taught. Many of the most innovative consumer products (e.g. Post-Its as well as those derived from Velcro and Gore-Tex) were created by technology and fabrics already available. To ask "Why didn't I think of that?" is to acknowledge the invisibility of the obvious. Heightening our awareness of potentialities within the so-called commonplace, thereby enabling "everyday ingenuity," is precisely why Nalebuff and Ayres wrote this thoughtful, thought-provoking, and eloquent book. It will be of greatest value to decision-makers in literally any organization (regardless of size or nature) who are in urgent need of generating new and better ideas, perhaps re-configuring mature products or services, and generating ideas which will be the seed of entirely new products and services. The quotation from George Bernard Show with which they begin the first chapter seems especially appropriate to the conclusion of my brief commentary: "Some men see things as they are and say, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not?'" Fill your own toolbox and then have at it!

There is a major mistake in Chapter 7:
Judging from the Chinese translation, this book is ok if it didn't have a major slip in Chapter 7. The approach taken to find the solution to the triple-line puzzle was incorrect and misleading. And it's a serious mistake for a book on creativity. The authors made the use of this puzzle to convey their message of never giving up easily in problem solving and to demonstrate a good application of the principle of symmetry. However, the authors readily gave up on the first approach came to anyone's mind of first connecting the pair of block B by a straight line. Authors then gave up on a second approach, which certainly failed to work either. A solution was finally found in the 3rd try. Most of the readers would have been happily convinced and moved on to the rest of the book. But I for one didn¡¦t give up easily on the first approach as I was encouraged by the authors: 1. Be persistent. I didn¡¦t give up on the first approach. 2. Don't settle for a solution; pursue the best solution. The solution provided by the authors is not as elegant as I like. 3. And apply the principle of symmetry. The authors forgot to apply it to the first approach. It turned out that the first approach can lead to a solution which is also most elegant. The solution is: 1. First connecting the pair of Block B by the shortest straight line. 2. Connecting the pair of Block A by a curve line. The line, starting from the left Block A, heads south and goes in between the bottom Block B and C. Once it hits the boundary, it moves along the boundary. It curves up and heads toward the right Block A once it has passed the bottom Block B. 3. Connecting the pair of Block C by applying the principle of symmetry, or rather anti-symmetry.

Easy to read ý the enthusiasm is infectious:
This is very well-researched - a collection of anecdotes of innovative products and processes from around the world - UK, Australia, Italy, France, Canada, Germany, Sweden etc - whether they be financial, medical, transport etc. However, it's probably only of real use to a US Audience - comparing the US processes to the best foreign innovators. Everything they describe was already familiar to me (as I've worked in over 30 Countries). Where they talk about localised innovation, such as Lojack versus the Club, its well written - but if you'd never been to the USA and seen adverts for either Product, it'd be very hard to appreciate what they were comparing. I do like the US practice of being allowed to turn right on a red light - I wish we had that in the UK (obviously on a left turn for us), but this book taught me that it came from California originally. I think turn right on red is the best thing to come out of California since the Beach Boys. Also, for its dozens of ideas, the book has no Index - so impossible to dip back into for that great idea. In essence, the book is just a collection of anecdotes such as what imaginative people have been doing for 100's of years since Marco Polo and before - travel with your eyes, ears & mind open, and observe how others have approached that problem that is so irritating back home. For example, if I was writing the equivalent of this book for a UK audience, I'd be pushing for 'turn on red', and to clone the USA's 529 College Tuition Savings Plans.

A good book for product inventors:
This book introduces some techniques for coming up with creative ideas and (esp.) products, and then describes many examples of innovative products or product ideas which can be derived from application of the techniques. The example products and ideas were really interesting, and I got a number of "nice idea, I can use that in my business problem" thoughts (my business is software development), but not nearly as many as I got when I read "Whack on the Side of the Head", which for me is still the king of creativity books. "Why Not?" seemed a good book for someone who wants to invent products, whereas "Whack..." is pure fuel for how to think more creatively.

A different perspective:
Why Not? is an innovators thinkbox in how to make things better in our everyday lives/business. The book goes into great detail in providing examples that think outside of the box when designing products, programs or inventions. This book may not be for everyone, as the two authors intelligence level is superior to most (and I do not mean that to offend anyone!!), and even though they convey their book in an easy to understand manner, you can tell these two gentlemen think on a different level. Therefore, this book should be an enjoyable read, but don't get frustrated if you are not on the same level as them. I consider myself a smart cookie, and a few things were above my head.