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The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures | 
| Author: Dan Roam
Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy Used: $12.50
You Save: $12.45 (50%)
New (39) Used (10) from $12.50
Rating:  70 reviews
Sales Rank: 432
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 7.2 x 7.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 1591841992
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.403
EAN: 9781591841999
ASIN: 1591841992
Publication Date: March 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A bold new way to tackle tough business problems even if you draw like a second grader
When Herb Kelleher was brainstorming about how to beat the traditional hub-and- spoke airlines, he grabbed a bar napkin and a pen. Three dots to represent Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Three arrows to show direct flights. Problem solved, and the picture made it easy to sell Southwest Airlines to investors and customers.
Used properly, a simple drawing on a humble napkin is more powerful than Excel or PowerPoint. It can help crystallize ideas, think outside the box, and communicate in a way that people simply get . In this book Dan Roam argues that everyone is born with a talent for visual thinking, even those who swear they can t draw.
Drawing on twenty years of visual problem solving combined with the recent discoveries of vision science, this book shows anyone how to clarify a problem or sell an idea by visually breaking it down using a simple set of visual thinking tools tools that take advantage of everyone s innate ability to look, see, imagine, and show.
THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN proves that thinking with pictures can help anyone discover and develop new ideas, solve problems in unexpected ways, and dramatically improve their ability to share their insights. This book will help readers literally see the world in a new way.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 65 more reviews...
 Original and Inspiring Ideas January 4, 2009
Josh Itzoe
I was intrigued by the concept of this book and decided to purchase it. I am very happy I did. Dan Roam's ideas are original and fresh and his framework has really got me thinking about ways to utilize his approach in my business, especially when trying to communicate complex ideas and issues.
I liked the fact that his concepts were simple although I've found them to be a bit challenging to implement, more than likely because it's not something I'm used to doing. I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to challenge their conventional way of thinking and to step outside their comfort zone.
I've found this book to be one of the truly unique books about business that I have read and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
Joshua P. Itzoe, Author of Fixing the 401(k): What Fiduciaries Must Know (And Do) to Help Employees Retire Successfully.
Perfect January 3, 2009
L. Dobbins
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A funny thing happened on the way to the boardroom--this book is for everyone trying to problem solve in a creative, and also prgamatic way. Oxymoron? Not so! This book teaches you how--
Right-brainers and left-brainers are both super stars in this book.
The Back of the Napkin January 3, 2009
Claire Jones (Huntsville, AL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The book was not what I expected. I was thinking quick and dirty simple math formulae but what I found was something more robust and comprehensive. The book began with the 5 W's (Who, What, When, Where, Why...) and finished with process flow diagrams and XY charts. Examples of effective, simple, basic shapes are introduced at the beginning. Four steps of visual thinking are presented with examples. The thinking process of Looking vs. Seeing are presented in three separate chapters. These chapters show how to layout the most effective visual diagram tailored for the audience. The SQVID (Simple, Quality, Vision, Individual, Delta) method is presented enlarging the visual content methods.
The book is a concise course in data presentation/analysis. The chapters can be read at once or as needed. I suggest scanning the book for familiarization with the contents. Then cherry-pick or smorgasbord what you need, when you need it, for who you need it...
If you work in this kind of business situation or are a student with term papers and theses ahead then this book is for you.
Draw with ease to communicate your best ideas December 27, 2008
Timothy J. Haas (Fairfield, CT)
You don't need to be able to draw like an artist to communicate and capture great ideas. This book eases you into overcoming your fear of drawing and jump in with simple sketches and annotations. Unleash your creative right-brain and get to work immediately with the tools Roam provides. I liked the book and use it in my business practice to help people discover the power the ideas we develop together. When the communication on paper begins with drawings, clients engage with me, the concepts come together quickly and momentum is formed.
Beauty in Simplicity December 16, 2008
Fred Lang (South Korea)
"The Back of the Napkin" provides a methodology to quickly identify the underlying structure in apparent random, complex and nebulous problems/processes. As an American working in a foreign country, I found the graphical methods especially effective in creating an inclusive environment for all team members, including those with poor English skills.
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