Edward de Bono

The man who made thinking fun

Who is he?

Edward de Bono was a Maltese physician, psychologist, author, and consultant who developed the concept of lateral thinking, aiming to teach people how to think creatively and effectively.

Why is he an overman?

Eduard de Bono challenges the traditional ideas about thinking, intelligence and logic that limit innovation. He believes that thinking can be learned as a skill and is not tied directly to intelligence. His methods allow for creativity and new approaches in every field of business and science, as well as in personal life. The techniques can really help a person make better decisions and live a more joyous life.

Quotes:

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.

Thinking is the ultimate human resource.

If you never change your mind, why have one?

Important work:

The Use of Lateral Thinking

Six Thinking Hats

Po: Beyond Yes or No

Short biography:

19 May 1933 – 9 June 2021

Edward de Bono was born in Valletta, Malta. He earned degrees in psychology and physiology from Christ Church, Oxford and later obtained a doctorate in medicine from Cambridge University. These fields influenced his work of designing new frameworks for creativity and decision-making.

De Bono became a prominent figure in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to his idea of lateral thinking. He saw traditional logical thinking as possibly limiting innovation. His most famous technique is the “Six Thinking Hats”, which encourages groups to make decisions considering multiple perspectives. Over the course of his life, De Bono wrote over 60 books and developed many tools for creative thinking. He also worked as a consultant for major international companies and lectured extensively across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.

De Bono was married and had children but his personal life was rather private. He maintained strong ties to Malta and is considered one of the country’s most influential thinkers.