First some Critical Thinking (a valid, but inferior activity, according to the author). In spite of the cerebral subject, some statements sound decidedly lowbrow. Intellectualism is put down as an overly complex and non-creative activity. For a purportedly successful methodology that has been around for 20 years (at the time of the book's publishing), the absence of scientific proof that the theory works is surprising: only one study with a concrete result is mentioned. One stumbles over some inconsistencies: on p. 11 critical thinking is said not to have high value in today's society, but on the next page it is claimed to be important. Terms such as "mathematical necessity of creativity" betray the author's careless use of language ("mathematical" is out of place here).

The title is vague. 30 pages into the book one learns that the methods presented are generally applicable to children older than 9. This information should have been present in the cover notes or in the editorial reviews. The boy on the book's cover looks like a 5-year-old. The section on which methods to teach at which age should be in the back, since the special terms and abbreviations, mentioned before they are explained, do not make sense. The cover note claim that the book helps kids "to make today's life-and-death choices" seems rather heavy-handed.

The author does not suffer from modesty: "unlike many people in this field, Dr. de Bono is an original thinker". The book is rather dry, and it is especially unfortunate since the author would like children to be among the readers.

Developing educational tools for thinking echoes works of other writers (Rita Levi Montalcini, a 1986 Nobel winner in medicine, is one). Still, the author does not refer to anybody else's research on the topic, nor is there a list of literature.

The main strengths of the book are its practicality and optimism. The tools are simple to use and the exercises on each technique are engaging. Refreshing is the belief that everybody can be taught to become a thinker.

By far the most interesting and original part of the book is on teaching creativity by means of provocation and Random Word technique. Both tools are designed to bring one to a dramatically new view on the problem and to a solution that may be called "creative". Other techniques, such as "Consider All Factors" or "Outcome and Conclusion", might seem self-evident, but practicing them with children seems a worthwhile exercise.

To summarize, most shortcomings of the book seem overall insignificant, whereas the core is healthy. I would recommend the book to those who are prepared to practice or teach thinking techniques.

After listening to De Bono's taped works (such as "Teach Your Child How to Think"), I was both saddened and amazed to realize how limited in scope were the types and tools of thinking I was taught at all levels of education. The high school I attended focused primarily on acquiring information; the Ivy-league schools I attended taught specialized material primarily through judgment, criticism, analysis, and argument.

Other important thinking modes, especially action-oriented ones such as design, exploration, creativity, and so forth, were assumed to arise mainly from talent and intelligence, and therefore were not taught, even ignored. How wrong and damaging was that default view !

How I also wish I'd learned some of De Bono's concepts, perspectives, and tools in high school (or earlier). Important parts of life would have been much richer, perhaps easier (higher education is one example).

Though I rate these tapes 5-stars, I want to point out that it is likely an adult will have to internalize this material and teach it carefully to a young person. There will be a learning curve in the beginning.

Ed De Bono's works are packed with useful tools and insights. Because they are packed, gaining the most benefit requires reading "between the lines". I believe the listener must "stop the tape" (or put down the book) and make the effort to expand on De Bono's concepts and comments, in part by mapping them into past personal experiences (particularly useful are those experiences that had costly or unpleasant outcomes for the listener because at the time he/she lacked (or misapplied) certain thinking tools).

I am convinced that anyone of average intelligence and education who invests about 20 hours effort to listen to, internalize, and then practice a half-dozen of De Bono's various thinking tools will be amazed at the improvement it will yield in his/her relationships and work. I offer this comment as neither a religious nor "New Age" promoter but merely as a person who continues to benefit from these approaches.

I also highly recommend De Bono's "Teach Yourself to Think" tape set. It largely complements this set.