Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Book Summary
TL;DR
Dan Roam's 'Back of The Napkin' teaches you how to solve problems and sell ideas effectively using simple visualizations and drawings.
What is Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures about
'Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures' by Dan Roam introduces a novel approach to business problem-solving and idea development through the use of simple drawings. The book emphasizes the power of visual thinking to clarify complex issues, develop innovative solutions, and communicate ideas effectively. Roam leverages his two decades of experience in visual problem-solving and insights from vision science to offer practical tools and strategies for using pictures to think and convey ideas more effectively.
Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures 5 Key Takeaways
Visual Thinking
Roam emphasizes that everyone has an innate ability to think visually, which can be harnessed to solve problems and communicate ideas more clearly.
The Visual Thinking Toolbox
The book introduces a set of visualization tools that can be used to break down and analyze problems or ideas into more understandable segments.
Four-Step Process
Roam outlines a four-step process of looking, seeing, imagining, and showing to facilitate visual thinking and problem-solving.
The SQVID Framework
The SQVID framework helps in visualizing ideas by focusing on Simple vs. Elaborate, Quality vs. Quantity, Vision vs. Execution, Individual Attributes vs. Comparison, and Delta (change) vs. Status Quo.
Practical Applications
The book provides real-world examples and exercises that demonstrate how visual thinking can be applied to various business scenarios and challenges.
Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Videos
The Back of the Napkin | Dan Roam | Talks at Google - YouTube
Top Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Quotes
- 'A simple drawing on a humble napkin is more powerful than Excel or PowerPoint.'
- 'We can solve almost any problem by drawing a simple picture.'
- 'The ability to see and imagine is something we all have, but few of us use.'
Who should read Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures?
'Back of The Napkin' is ideal for business professionals, marketers, educators, and anyone interested in improving their problem-solving and communication skills. Readers will gain practical tools and insights for using visual thinking in their daily tasks.
Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Best Reviews
- Seth Godin praises the book: 'This book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills. Dan Roam shows us how simply drawing can change the way we solve problems and communicate.'
- Tom Peters says: 'Dan Roam has provided a powerful way to solve problems for anyone who has a napkin available.'
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Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures FAQs
What is the back of the napkin exercise?
The back of the napkin exercise involves teams coming up with answers to provocative questions and illustrating their ideas on a napkin. It's a quick and rough way to brainstorm and visualize concepts.
What does back of the napkin mean?
The term 'back of a napkin' refers to sketching out a quick, rough idea of a business or product, often used in the business world for initial brainstorming.