Simplicity

by Edward de Bono

Book Overview

This text argues that in an increasingly complex world, "simplicity" is going to be a key value. The pace of change is not going to stop so we have to make a conscious effort to make things simpler.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670870129
• ISBN13: 9780670870127
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Viking
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A CONVINCING BOOK ABOUT THE NEED TO SIMPLIFY EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES

The burden of complexity Edward de Bono who is one of the best authors about thinking skills and methods explains why must and how mankind can simplify just about every aspect of life. He states that technical, social procedures, institutions are needlessly complicated and have a tendency to get more complicated over time if there is not a deliberate intention to simplify them. This growing complication is at the expense of effectiveness and productivity. When people get accustomed to doing things in a certain way without questioning them they often do not realize that they are excessively complicated. Why simplicity ? Is simple always better ? Yes, provided that it is not oversimplified such that it no longer performs the function it is intended for. Some people think that being complicated in language, technology etc. are virtues and that simplicity is inferior. This is a misconception. De Bono says that even when we perceive no problem in an activity we should still investigate if it can be done simpler. Systems may be sophisticated themselves but through this sophistication they may contribute to simplicity. An example is computer hardware and software that make life simpler. Edward de Bono walks his talk by having written this book in a very simple structure. If he had written a complicated book difficult to understand about simplicity he would have contradicted himself. Individuals, corporations and governments have important lessons to derive from this book. Because bureaucratic, corporate, election and similar procedures are often excessively complicated to the extent that they reduce productivity. Simplification often leads to increased effectiveness and productivity. Edward de Bono gives several examples, among them a simplification in the method of drilling and searching for oil which led to an increase in its discovery. Technological advance by itself is not suficient. It could add to complexity instead of simplicity if technology is handled with the wrong kind of thinking. Are there no situations where complexity is desirable over simplicity ? De Bono says that in art there can be deliberate complexity that is justified. Other than that simplicity should be the goal. How can simplicity be achieved ? De Bono states several guidelines necessary for simplicity to actualize. First, we must understand why simplicity is necessary. It must be a value and a policy goal. Then people who want to simplify a procedure must know that procedure very well. However, good knowledge of the procedure by itself is not sufficient, because it could cause blindness to the complexity as the appliers maybe too used to it. People often resist to change even if the novelty introduces simplicity because of the fear of the unfamiliar. They are therefore trapped in complexity. We also need to educate people about simplicity by making it a government policy, introduce it into education systems, encourage people to come up with ideas of how to perform a cer

A very good book

This is a great book and I wish that I had read it years ago. Edward de Bono not only makes the case for simplicity but he exhorts us to pursue it and he gives us a framework for doing so. I can look back on many occasions when I wish I could whipped out such a book from my briefcase and thumped it in front of the annoying or imbecilic person with whom I was dealing at the time and said "Go home, read that, then come back and resume this discussion". I find that I have underlined many useful comments or ideas. My favourite is possibly this: "An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore." On the other side of the coin, de Bono has some harsh words for people who try to establish themselves as experts by making things more complex and more difficult to understand. Keep this in mind when dealing with "experts". The book loses points for being way too long. In the edition I read, the main text was printed only on the right hand pages and an extract or summary of that text was printed in large letters on the facing left hand page, thereby turning a 150 page book into a 300 page book. Very irritating. Indeed, in illustrating a point in the book, de Bono says that he could have made the book - by which I assume he is referring to the main text on the right hand pages - shorter (simpler) but his publishers told him that it had to be a certain length! So, by his own admission (or, perhaps, apology) this should have been a 50 page book. It's a pity, because it would have been a better book if it had been simplified. Maybe one day de Bono will take a leaf out of his own book and simplify his main works into a single slim volume. It must be satisfying to look back on a life's work filling the bookshelves, but how much more satisfying would it be to have that life's work in a single volume and thereby easily accessible. It could be called "The Readers Digest de Bono", or "The Best of de Bono" or, perhaps, ideally, "de Bono Simplified".

Nice book about simplicity from a Lateral Thinker view

Excellent book that mix lateral thinking concepts with simplicity. 10 rules of simplicity are outlined. The book covers informatoin about simplicity from the perspective of a person that is very creative and has fully contribute in this regards. I recommend it if you want to apply simplicity and creative thinking to your life. It is a must in this complex days world! Enjoy

A review from a guy w/o experience from Thailand

Simplification give me an eagle view to see myself. He give me a idea to think and solve things in the easy way. I agree with him that simplify the things will make me do a lot more interesting jobs. The book is very easy to read. I'm Thai and I'm not good at english any more but I can understand this book very well (I hope that). P.S. The bookstore in Thailand sell your book very high price, so can you solve this problem with you simplification

Simplicity

The book was able to provide such great amount of practical usage of simplicity. He was able to strongly relate this in conducting daily affairs from human management to engineering problem solving. The language and style was also very readable accompanied in enjoyable tones. I would recommend this book to anyone who is confused on the ever increasing complexity in today's world and see it in different light. Above all, it's not as abstract to practice at all.