David N. Perkins

This book was uncatalogued in my library until now.

Well written, thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining.

Makes one think about thinking, and helps solve problems by helping one understand the psychological traps behind the problems.

In the first nine pages describing his four constructs of; purpose, structure, model, and argument, David Perkins provides the very best description of human cognition that I have found in my 18+ years of researching the topic. He goes on to expand into the complexities of perception and expertise, but the core thesis Dr. Perkins provides here is nothing short of the true, core, fundamental nature of the human experience. I like this book!

If you have any interest in the way the human mind show more works, read this book! show less

Attentive observation of art provides an excellent opportunity for better thinking, for the cultivation of the "art of intelligence." The arts are important in an educational setting, therefore, because they can cultivate important thinking strategies in children and adults alike. With
carefully chosen illustrations, Perkins demonstrates how the reflective approach to art can develop broader, more adventurous, and clearer avenues of thought.

From Archimedes' discovery of the principle of water displacement while taking a bath to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, from Brunelleschi's development of perspective drawing to the Impressionist revolution, from the taming of fire to the creation of the laser, "breakthrough thinking"—that is, a sudden, seemingly unaccountable moment of inspiration—has shaped and advanced civilization. But Nature invents, too—through evolutionary watersheds like vertebrate mammals and formerly show more grounded creatures making the leap to flight. How, then, does breakthrough thinking really work? What, if anything, does human invention have in common with biological evolution? Drawing on a rich knowledge of artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology, David Perkins offers a uniquely integrative theory of how breakthroughs occur, along with dozens of delightful mind puzzles and illustrations that will have you quizzing whomever happens to be nearest. B/W line drawings. Published in hardcover as Archimedes' Bathtub. show less