Thinking Games

Classic thinking games are a great way to tune upthe shape of a couch.More Thinking GamesA lateral
your brain. You can use these mind games to helpthinking puzzle you can try right now involves nine
you increase your brain power and to get you out ofdots, layed out three by three. Connect them all with
your thinking "ruts." Play them enough, and they'llfour straight lines, without lifting the pen or pencil
habituate you to using creative problem solving as afrom the paper. When you figure this one out you'll
normal part of thinking about things.Thinking Gamesappreciate the expression "thinking outside of the
For GroupsGroup thinking games are especially goodbox."Many lateral-thinking puzzles use a scenario, real
for long trips in a car. Have someone look out theor imagined, with a selection of things you have to
window, for example, and randomly choose anuse to accomplish something. Imagine a ping-pong ball
object. Everyone in the car then tries to imagine ain an iron pipe that's set in cement. The pipe sticks up
new way to make money with it. Common streetthree-feet high, and has almost the same diameter
signs become places to advertise, trees are sold withas the ball. Using only a box of frosted-flakes, and a
names, and a truck becomes a traveling groceryt-shirt, and your body and mind, how many ways can
store.Use the "change of perspective" technique as ayou find to get the ball out of the pipe? You could
problem-solving game. Just pick any topic, and seealso set this up for real, to know if a proposed
who can come up with the most unique newsolution will really work.Many riddles are just mind
perspective. Could there be a world where jobsgames or lateral-thinking puzzles. You move laterally in
weren't necessary? How would a virus defineyour mind, away from your usual line of thought, to
morality if it was conscious?One creative thinkingsolve a riddle. For example, what did his friends do
game uses a technique called "concept combination."when the canibal was late for dinner? They gave him
You simply combine random concepts or things inthe cold shoulder, of course! Keeping your brain in
interesting ways, and see who has the best idea. Ashape doesn't have to be a matter of serious study.
chair and a microwave? Maybe an easy-chair with aWhy not play some thinking games?Steve Gillman has
built-in cooler, microwave and television, orbeen studying brainpower and related topics for
microwavable "couch potatoes" - a potato snack inyears.