The last twenty years have been filled with much research on how to make use of both CREATIVE and CRITICAL or ANALYTICAL THINKING SKILLS. Widespread use of this research has been slow to move to industry. However, none of the trendy quality control or design tools can work if we are using a rusty brain to implement improvement. Presentations of varying lengths are available so that you too may make use of some of the exciting and surprisingly easy to learn THINKING SKILL improvement methods.

Some of the books that you find useful are listed here:

Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology
by David A. Levy

This book has short (3-5 page) lessons on common thinking errors. It gives examples and has exercises. You could work with this book for a long time and keep getting your money's worth. It was written for the fuzzy field of psychology, but let's face it, we all have to use our minds when we do any intellectual activity, such as engineering. Check it out!

Please Understand Me: Character an Temperament Types by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates

This is a great book to work with if you have never gotten into how personality types affect how we see the world, each other, and different situations. This book helps us come to terms with our SUBJECTIVE natures.

How to Think Like Leonardo daVinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day by Michael Gelb

This is also a good book to work with to increase your creativity and open mindedness. One of the chapters has its premise that to be creative, you have to develop your critical thinking skills. This book was on the NY Times bestseller list for a while. Check it out!

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