Rohit Bhargava and Ben duPont
How to see what others miss. A concise four-step method anyone can use to improve their mental flexibility, spot the insights hiding in plain sight, and turn their best ideas into reality.
Praise For The Book
More than 50 bestselling authors, CEOs, and educators shared early reviews of the book. Here is a small sample of what a few of them said.
“Fuels breakthrough thinking!”
Tony Robbins#1 NY Times Bestselling Author“A delightful guide to questioning old assumptions.”
Adam Grant#1 NY Times Bestselling Author of Think Again and Hidden Potential“Big leaps come from non-obvious thinking. This is a must read!”
Sal KhanFounder & CEO of Khan Academy“This book will open your eyes and uncork your brain!”
Daniel H. Pink#1 NY Times Bestselling Author of Drive, When, and The Power of Regret“A powerful reminder of why curiosity matters!”
John SculleyEntrepreneur and former CEO of Apple“This is an important book … a source of cover-to-cover joy.”
Tom Peters#1 Global Bestselling Coauthor of In Search of Excellence“Filled with riveting stories and quick takeaways.”
Dorie ClarkBestselling Author of The Long Game“Fun to read and wonderfully actionable!”
Dolly ChughNYU Stern Professor & Bestselling Author“Amazingly thought provoking.”
Chris GheysensChairman & CEO of Wawa, Inc.“Perceptive and illuminating!”
Scott Osman & Jacquelyn LaneCofounders, 100 Coaches Agency“This book is imaginative, creative and, above all, highly interesting.”
Charles ElsonEdgar S. Woolard Jr. Chair in Corporate Governance, University of Delaware“Sagacious!”
Adrian TennantWinner, Non-Obvious One-Word Book Review Program
Duck or rabbit? More than a century later, the answer is still both.
Shift Your Perspective
It traps us in a routine, unable to imagine other perspectives or create truly original ideas. What does it take to think bigger, have more empathy, and transform your best ideas into reality?
What can the world’s most dangerous playground teach us about the power of embracing radical curiosity? Why does the quirky science of enigmatology offer a perfect formula for discovering the hidden side of anything? How can a seven-minute meetup reinvent the way you build your network?
From the termite mounds of Zimbabwe to an undiscovered Australian island that seemingly disappeared overnight, the book blends fascinating stories with highly actionable daily lessons to help you shift the way you think.
The Method
Before you can see what others miss, you must develop the mental flexibility to be open to new ideas.
This process starts with creating more space. Space is the warmup stretch that makes limber, non-obvious thinking possible. In Part I, you will read about proven techniques for creating space, from reinventing your breathing to unearthing your mental biases.
Once you have learned to create more space, in Part II you will learn to uncover insights. Insights go beyond describing the world as we see it on the surface and explain why it is the way it is. Discovering them usually starts by asking better questions.
After you get better at collecting insights, you will need to narrow your attention to the things that matter most. In Part III, you will learn techniques to help you focus. This includes new suggestions to block out the many distractions we all face and see other perspectives unlike your own.
The final stage in the SIFT framework is what we like to call the twist. This is the moment when you challenge yourself to take your thinking even further. If your mental journey to this point was akin to a high jump, this would be the moment when you raise the bar just a little higher.
Inside The Book
Every chapter introduces a skill of non-obvious thinkers, tells the stories behind it, and ends with simple ways to put it into practice the same day.
Take A Look Inside
Fully illustrated, designed to be read in about two hours, and written to be revisited. These sample spreads show how the book teaches each skill.
The Thinkers Behind It
Rohit is on a mission to help the world be more open-minded by teaching others how to be non-obvious thinkers. He is the #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of ten books, previously spent 15 years at two of the largest advertising agencies in the world, and has been invited to headline events in 32 countries. He lives in Washington, DC, and is a dad of two teenage boys.
Ben is a pioneering venture capitalist who cofounded the open innovation company yet2 in 1999 and previously worked at DuPont. For years his signature annual non-obvious dinner has brought together U.S. Senators, CEOs, and Nobel laureates alongside entrepreneurs, musicians, and students to share audacious ideas. He lives in Rockland, Delaware, with his wife and two kids.
Book Details
Published Around The World
The book is now available in translated editions around the world, with more languages on the way.
Get Your Copy
Signed copies ship directly from the Non-Obvious store. The book is also available from your favorite bookseller.
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