Of all of the books that I have read or am reading the absolute best, by a wide margin, is called Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko.



Thinkertoys is a workbook designed to push yourself to constantly improve your problem solving approach and creativity.

Part of the book is dedicated to left brain development and part of the book is dedicated to right brain development. Each chapter is focused on a single specific method of looking at things in a new way. The book is written in such a manner that you can read an approach, master it, utilize it then move on to the next over as much or as little time as you need.

After you have developed several skills you can combine the methods to create solutions in even more ways.

This is the number one book that I recommend for all of 2006. It is far more powerful than the excellent sales books by Gitomer, the marketing books by Godin or the relationship books by Sanders... this book is a must read!

Do yourself a huge favor and buy a copy and start reading it

ooooo....looks awesome! thanks for the rec.

lol.. a couple of days i bought 10 copies of this book as a xmas gift for my best friends.

I really hopt that this book is as good as the recommendations on amazon say.

Greetings
Juergen

I read this when I was a marketing major in business school.. it's one of the few "textbooks" that I actually kept. I haven't pulled it out in a while, but thanks for reminding me.

I was just reminded of another great creativity building book... The Artist's Way

Great suggestion, I just bought that one too

Brady,

Thanks. I needed a good book like that. ( tinkertoys)


I am reading Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman - which is great.

But I would like to say If you have a business- a helpful book to read is - Why we buy- by Pacco underhill

It will change the way you think about customers, presenting, and marketing..


Patrick

Thanks!

I just added both of those to my 2007 reading list

Thanks Brady for the recommendation!
I just bought it, looks awesome!
BTW...Amazon's 'Buy with one click' option is trippy! Whoa!

I love 'Buy with one click'... Amazon makes it so easy to spend money

You are going to love the book, let me know what you think after you read it. I was really excited getting through all the chapters just planning on what I was going to think of next!

EDIT: Ooh, by the way, I just bought The Long Tail after seeing it on your blog

I just added those too. I am reading "Maverick at work" and it seems very good.

Great, I'll check that one out too

WOW...I read this post a few days ago and didn't realize there was a link to your whole booklist! Awesome info, Brady! Thanks for sharing that! I was psyched about Matt's list and now I'm doubly psyched! You guys are a wealth of knowledge and its awesome of you to share your reading lists. THANKS AGAIN!!

The whole book list is here, I'll add to it every few weeks and I may expand to include some reviews

Thanks for sharing your book list, Brady! Just ordered a few...

Happy new year!!!
Claire

YEAH!! I just got the book a couple days ago and am soooo excited to read it!! It' looks awesome!
OH!! You will LOVE The Long Tail!! It is very interesting!!

Cool, thanks for the recommendation and I will grab a copy. We didn't read this one back in school.

You are one smart guy, Brady. Great books on there - thanks for sharing!!

I hope you all love the book as much as I do, I was really excited when I was reading it while I was thinking of all of the great things I want to change

Thanks for sharing Brady! The other night after I read this thread I went and bought every book. I love to read anyway and I'm really excited for the new year!

That's so cool, UPS keeps bringing me Amazon.com boxes filled with great books

sounds AWESOME!! I will have to check it out for sure, Chris and I both think so differently, it would be a good book for both of us to go through and learn from!

Cool, I bet it would be a lot of fun to do the chapters with someone so different

once we get a chance to go through it I will let you know how it works for our so very different brains

I just joined the forum, and this is my second post. Thanks so much for the book list! I went out and bought Thinkertoys and Cracking Creativity. Wow! What great books to start off the new year and begin thinking in new ways!

I printed out the book list, too. Can't thank you enough for that!

Cindy

I'm also new to this forum, and just wanted to say I find the book recommendations very useful. One of my goals this year is to read business related books like the ones suggested in the forum. Since I started using the Amazon's postage saving one click prime program, I've been saving some bucks and time by not shopping at local stores. My wife and I get a book or other product from Amazon at least every other week or two now.

Anyway, if there are any forum members living in Sacramento or surrounding area, please give me a holla. I'm wanting to hook up with others in the biz.

Hey HEY! Sacramento area hu? I'm from Roseville! Welcome, it's nice to see another local on the board!!

Cool, I read one of your previous responses in a thread but I didn't notice your location. Also great to know you're close by. So do you both belong to any good assoication business related groups Sacto that I should be checking out? I know there's a Sac photographer's association but I don't know anyone yet that belongs to it. I read that you need a reseller's liscence to join the association, but that's all I really know about it.
Thanks for responding.

you know we don't belong to anything yet, but will be looking into a few things in the near future. I do belong to a local forum that my friend started. I haven't been too active there, but hope to soon.

Enjoy the book list Cindy

Bakari, welcome to OSP. I love Amazon Prime... suggest some great books for 2007, I love to read!

I know this is an older post but I just had a chance to read Thinkertoys yesterday and I wanted to bump it because the book is EXCELLENT! Definitely in my top 10 books in the last year as well. Not #1 - #3 but top 5 maybe, top 10 definitely! This book forces you to think outside - think BEYOND the box, and think about the box as maybe NOT a box but a block on yourself. It's awesome - great rec. Brady

Anne, I am reading "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron right now. Good book!

I have The Artist's Way too--great book. I will check out Thinkertoys too based on Brady's recommendation!

Thought I'd throw this book out there since it's one that I read at least once a year...kind of an obscure title, but it will definitely make you think differently about customer service. Just insert "wedding photography" every time they say "deli!" It talks about the philosophy and techniques behind giving great customer service. A real eye opener and must read for anyone who owns their own business.

Zingermans Guide to Giving Great Service (it's a quick read too--and I see it's for sale at Amazon used for $1.85).

Geneve

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I'm glad you liked the book Matt

My husband looked EVERYWHERE to buy this book for me for Christmas and absolutely every store he went to could not find it in their system. Where did you buy it?

AMAZON.COM for $14!

I have never seen this book at a B&M store either

I just ordered the book!! wohoo!

Also give Letters to a Young Poet by Ranier Maria Rilke a try. This is for the artist in you.

Rachel and I have been singing the praises of our dear friend Bryan Moss. His new book, PhotoSynthesis, is the best photo book of the year IMHO.

Check it out. It will inspire you and remind you of the magic inherent in photography!

http://lifeinamerica.us/photosynthesis/