The Wise Fool is the archetypal contrarian known for his creativity, irreverence, and humor. He looks at life inunorthodoxways and pushes back against the status quo. Throughout history, powerful decision-makers (Egyptian pharaohs, Chinese emperors, Persian sultans, and European kings) consulted Wise Fools to question the assumptions that kept them mired in stale and obsolete solutions.
InThe Creative Contrarian,best-selling author (A Whack on the Side of the Head), speaker, and toy designer (Ball of Whacks) Dr. Roger von Oech provides readers with a fully-illustrated "Wise Fool Guide" to challenge established procedures and engage in creative thinking.
Roger shows how to gain the confidence to speak up in "groupthink" situations - and boldly present a different perspective. From laughing at your most beloved ideas to test their validity to adding constraints to problems to reveal new solutions, he offers a framework for creativity that works in business, design, education, and anywhere new ideas are required - and appreciated!
Employing a wealth of stories and examples,The Creative Contrarianpresents 20 Wise Fool Strategies:

• Some offer ideas to enhance your creativity ("Reverse Your Perspective," "Look for Ambiguity," and "Kiss a Favorite Idea Goodbye")
  
• Some provide tips on how to break away from the herd ("Buck the Crowd," "Flex Your Risk Muscle," and "Seek Other Right Answers")
  
• And still others convey prudent warnings in an unpredictable world ("Exercise Humility," "Imagine Unintended Outcomes," and "Develop a Thick Skin")
  

Together, these jewels of insight will help you see things from the Wise Fool's perspective! As the Wise Fool puts it: "Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it's the only one you have"; and "Every 'right' idea eventually becomes the 'wrong' one."
The Creative Contrarian: 20"Wise Fool"Strategies to Boost Creativity and Curb Groupthinkis an indispensable resource for anyone seeking fresh solutions to common problems at the office, in the classroom, or at home.