Jack’s Notebook: A Business Novel about Creative Problem Solving
by Gregg Fraley
Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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Reviewed by Beth Cummings
Gregg Fraley works as an innovation consultant to Fortune 500 companies and does keynote speeches and workshops on creative thinking, innovation, problem solving, and new-product development. In this book, Jack’s Notebook, he puts the principles that he teaches into a fictional story about a group of characters that use the creative problem solving process (CPS). It is a light but intriguing story where each chapter highlights part of the process.
The story itself follows Jack Huber’s activities as he works toward his goal – leaving the world of part-time jobs and becoming a photographer with his own studio. He is a likeable young man who receives help from a mentor, a girlfriend and others in his creative journey. A main part of the process involves keeping a notebook of ideas – hence the title, Jack’s Notebook.
The beginning of the book has a long introductory chapter that explains what Creative Problem Solving is according to Gregg Fraley. Then each chapter also begins with a small intro that defines the role CPS plays in that chapter.
At the end of the book Fraley has included a CPS Quick Reference Guide, a diagram of the process, several pages showing CPS Steps at a Glance, and finally a complete version of the notebook Jack maintains in the story with Author’s Tips.
This was not a difficult book and could be an inspiration to anyone looking for ways to jump-start their own creative process. It’s not for everyone and may seem overly simple to readers with creative problem-solving experience. I am not sure that budding entrepreneurs or corporate think tank groups would want to read the simple story unless it was incorporated into a class or seminar on the subject and its uses.
Armchair Interview says: Basics of creative problem solving many people lack.
Author’s Web site: http://www.GreggFraley.com