Six Thinking Hats
Edward de Bono • 1985
In Short
A creative consultant offers a method for structuring and directing the process of thinking through roleplay.
In Depth
Who's the author?
Edward de Bono is an author and consultant on creative thinking. He is known for originating the term “lateral thinking.” He’s served as a faculty member at universities of Oxford, London and Cambridge and runs a program of training courses in thinking, working with companies like IBM, Du Pont, and AT&T.
What's the intention?
In this relatively short book, de Bono defines the idea of six “thinking hats,” each representing a mode of thinking that one can apply to any situation. He promotes the framework as a way to structure the process of understanding and creative problem solving.
Who's it for?
The tone of the book often feels like the author is selling you on his ideas, which is not far from the truth as de Bono’s organization offers training courses in applying his methods. The writing seems to target professionals and managers, those who may be in a position to apply his techniques in more formal settings of organizations.
So what?
While I feel the book has kind of a superficial, salesy quality to it, I think the idea of the six thinking hats moves us to interrogate the ways we think. Especially when we think about design process, it poses some good questions about what your priorities are at any given time, and what tacit assumptions or context you are bringing to the situation.
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More
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On Deliberate Thinking Through Defined Roleplay
Pattern • Facilitation • Play
Roleplay make the rules of thinking explicit and gives people permission to think in ways they may not have otherwise. The six thinking hats are an example of defined roles for thinking.
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On Mapmaking Rather Than Dialectical Argument
Facilitation
The typical Western mode of thinking emphasizes the discovery of truth through argument and dialogue. A fuller map of thinking needs to include the generative and creative.