Skip to content
Quick Summary: Edward de Bono’s Teach Yourself to Think is a masterclass in developing practical thinking skills.
Unlike traditional logic-heavy approaches, de Bono introduces frameworks like perception, creative possibilities, and decision-making to make thinking actionable.
Whether you’re solving problems or exploring opportunities, this book helps bridge intelligence with real-world thinking.
Tapan’s Verdict: Skim it 🤓
🚨 Quick sidebar: Finding this book summary helpful? You should subscribe to my newsletter to get similar actionable insights from books.
Psttt, you will also get a free copy of my ebook, Framework for Thoughts, when you sign up!
Teach Yourself to Think: Actionable Insights
Intelligence vs. Thinking
De Bono draws a sharp distinction: intelligence is the engine, but thinking is the skill of driving.
The smartest individuals can fall into the “intelligence trap”, relying on their raw intellect but failing to apply structured thought.
Embrace this analogy to focus on refining your thinking process, no matter your starting intelligence.
The Power of Perception
De Bono argues that perception—how we frame and interpret problems—is the foundation of good thinking.
He emphasises carving the world into manageable “chunks” and choosing what to focus on.
A perception shift, such as viewing a “half-empty glass” as “half-full”, can completely change outcomes.
This is similar to what Jeff Bezos preaches in his annual shareholder letters compiled in the book, Invent and Wander. He says that not all decisions are the same, some decisions are one-way doors (irreversible) whereas others are two-way doors (reversible). You need to focus on the irreversible decisions.
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle: The Gang of Three
Edward de Bono critiques the “Gang of Three”—Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle—for shaping Western thinking around analysis, judgement, and argument at the expense of creativity.
- Socrates focused on dismantling ideas through relentless questioning but rarely offered solutions. His approach prioritised critique over construction.
- Plato sought absolute truths and rigid systems, inspired by Sparta’s authoritarian model. His disdain for relativity led to an obsession with perfection that stifled flexibility.
- Aristotle formalised this thinking into rigid “boxes,” reducing ideas to binaries like “is” or “is not.” This system prioritised judgement and exclusion over exploration.
De Bono argues that their legacy discourages generative thinking, focusing instead on what’s wrong rather than creating new possibilities.
He advocates moving beyond these restrictive frameworks to embrace creativity and innovation.
TO-LO-PO-SO-GO Framework for Thinking
This five-step method structures your thought process:
- TO (Target): Define the goal or purpose of your thinking. What are you aiming to achieve?
- LO (Look Around): Gather all relevant information and understand the situation.
- PO (Possibilities): Brainstorm creative solutions and approaches without judgement.
- SO (Selection): Narrow down your options and decide on a course of action.
- GO (Action): Implement your solution and plan the next steps.
De Bono’s method simplifies complex decisions, making it easy to approach challenges with clarity.
This framework along with the knowledge of other important mental models can elevate your thinking.
Movement vs. Stagnation
Good thinkers don’t get stuck in one mode of thought.
De Bono advocates a constant “zooming in and out”—from details to the big picture. I have already discussed this in my article on focused vs. diffuse thinking.
Whether it’s tackling a business problem or deciding where to eat, this habit helps uncover insights you might miss otherwise.
The Concept Fan: Reverse Problem-Solving
Instead of obsessing over one solution, work backwards. De Bono’s Concept Fan encourages reframing the problem, redefining its purpose, and brainstorming alternate routes.
For example, instead of asking how to improve traffic, ask, “How do we discourage cars?”
A different alternative that I have already discussed is considering second-order consequences using the thinking framework.
Risk Assessment: The Black Hat’s Role
De Bono’s “Black Hat” thinking—caution and criticism—plays a vital role in decision-making.
Use it to spot flaws in your plans but avoid overusing it. Too much caution kills creativity.
Random Entry for Creativity
Break traditional thought patterns by starting from a random word or idea.
De Bono likens this to taking an unexpected route home: starting from a new point can open paths you wouldn’t normally see.
Thinking vs. Action
De Bono warns against separating thinking from action.
“Thinking should continue into the action stage”.
Consider how your ideas will play out in real-world scenarios, and adapt as necessary.
Neutral Thinking
Sometimes, the purpose of thinking is exploration itself.
De Bono encourages using “neutral-area thinking” to generate ideas without immediate goals, which can lead to unexpected innovations.
Memorable Quotes
The purpose of thinking is to deliver to you the values you seek, just as the purpose of a bicycle is to get you to where you want to go.
Perception is a generative system which opens up to what is not there.
Good thinkers have the ability to keep moving from the detail back to the general—and then back again.
