In Malaysia in June I met Barb Reid, an Aussie living in KL, working as a Librarian. I credit Barb for prompting my latest book, just released this week, “How to Think”.
That set me to thinking about what I would write if I was to offer a valuable book to today’s youth. And I quickly lit on the idea of opening up our thinking processes.
Solomon gave us great insights into “wisdom” and those insights are keys to good thinking. So I set my mind to unlocking some of the most basic truths in Solomon’s writings. Having given a lot of attention to Solomon’s Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes over the years I quickly distilled some keys that I think are fantastic, even though quite basic, and which should be captured by all of us as we develop our adult mind.
A week later, in Singapore with a few quiet days, I sat down and threw my thoughts onto the page. It was exhilarating to see these points take shape so quickly and to recognise that what I wrote was of universal value for young and old alike.
With the first draft wrapped up so quickly I sent it to my two teenage children, Sophia and Isaac, for their critical comment, since I aim to give value to high school youth. They affirmed and criticised my work.
While they thought my insights were fantastic (which a dad always likes to hear) they could see I was presenting too much insight too quickly for those who were slow to capture such things. It’s a perennial problem I faced since my earliest writing efforts. I see things and thrill at the insights, but struggle to dumb things down so everyone can catch it. Learning to simplify my thoughts has given me credit as a great educator and Bible teacher, able to make truths come alive, but I have not fully conquered my natural tendency to throw too much at people who can’t catch it.
Anyway, I took on board their comments and worked through successive drafts, adding explanations and examples, breaking up some sections into multiple steps and so on. I even thought of calling the book a “for dummies” book. But my children told me my idea of a “dummy” is too highly educated for real dummies.
I am part way through creating a version of this book in a much simpler form, but I decided I should also give this current gem to those looking for insight into thinking, rather than put it away until a simpler version can be created.
That’s not to say this book is too clever. On the contrary, it presents some pretty simple truths. I have every confidence that tens of thousands will find great help and insight in its pages.
So I finished off this “How to Think” version and released it for sale on Amazon, as a print-on-demand book. It will soon also be on the Kindle store and it is also available in print from Createspace.
I commend it to you as a book you really should read and give away to your young friends. It is ideal for school and community libraries, youth groups, counseling centres, and for parents and grandparents to have on hand to share with their extended families.
To get a copy of “How to Think – Teach Yourself to Think Clearly – by Dr Chris Field” go to
Or Createspace https://www.createspace.com/4323965
Happy Reading. Chris
Tags: blame, clear thinking, consequences, how to think, landscape, solomon, thinking skills, wisdom, wise choices
Sounds like a great concept for a book Chris!
I had a look at the table of contents and I can see where your kids are coming from. Might be too much to digest for some!
Love that you’ve got a Kindle version, that should be a must for all authors today to ensure that their materials can get into as many hands as possible.
thank you so much