Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step book cover

Lateral Thinking

Creativity Step by Step

Edward de Bono
3.6(149 Reviews)

Overview of Lateral Thinking

Unlock your mind's hidden potential with Edward de Bono's revolutionary "Lateral Thinking." The book that saved DuPont $30 million annually by eliminating nine manufacturing steps. What creative solutions are you missing by thinking vertically when the world demands thinking sideways?

Key Themes in Lateral Thinking

  • pattern restructuring
  • alternative generation
  • provocation techniques
  • indirect problem solving
  • cognitive flexibility

Quotes from Lateral Thinking

  • Lateral thinking is one of the few human capabilities that AI cannot replicate.

  • Being correct at each stage doesn't guarantee continued progress.

  • Sometimes being on the mountaintop is necessary to find the best way up.

  • Lateral thinking generates ideas and approaches while vertical thinking develops them.

  • Vertical thinking seeks rightness while lateral thinking seeks richness.

Characters in Lateral Thinking

  • Edward de BonoAuthor and psychologist who developed the concept

About the Author

About the Author of Lateral Thinking

Edward Charles Francis Publius de Bono (1933–2021) was a Maltese physician and psychologist who revolutionized problem-solving. He is best known as the pioneer of lateral thinking—a term he coined that was later added to the Oxford English Dictionary—and as the author of Lateral Thinking: A Textbook of Creativity.

A Nobel Prize nominee, de Bono combined his medical training at Oxford and Cambridge with psychological insights to develop frameworks like the Six Thinking Hats method, which is now taught in schools and Fortune 500 companies. His 1967 bestseller redefined creativity by introducing systematic techniques to break free from linear thought patterns.

De Bono was a prolific author, having written over 70 works, including Six Thinking Hats and Serious Creativity, which have been translated into 36 languages. His Cognitive Research Trust (CoRT) programs have reached millions globally, and his BBC series popularized accessible thinking tools.

Lateral Thinking remains a cornerstone of modern creativity studies. It is cited in academic curricula and corporate training programs for its actionable approach to generating breakthrough ideas.

Download Summary of Lateral Thinking

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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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483

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