The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking

     Thinking effectively has to be learned. The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking presents and introduces us to the mysteries of proper learning and thinking. With practical exercises and detailed explanation, the book offers us an outline for becoming creative and engaged learners. The hardcover book is written by Dr. Edward B. Burger and Dr. Michael Starbird, two mathematics professors, and was the Winner of the 2013 Silver Medal Independent Publisher Book Award in Self-Help. The book leads us through different topics where we can learn to adopt specific strategies and thought-provoking techniques. To understand deeply, to create your own questions, to make mistakes, to go with the flow, and to transform yourself are the main ideas of Burger & Starbird. The authors connect the chapters with the 5 elements (Earth, Fire, Air, Water and the Quintessential Element) and connect each element with one strategy. Earth explains the importance of grounding our thinking and to be organized in order to move on. Fire is the strategy of failing on the way to succeeding. This chapter informs us that our errors can be our guides, and we have to analyze our mistakes and missteps specifically to observe that our mistakes can give us insight and direction. Chapter Air shows us how to formulate and raise questions in order to obtain a deeper engagement and to reveal hidden assumptions. Water provides insight into our improvements by understanding the flow of ideas. “Ask where and what it was yesterday, a month ago, a year ago, and so forth. Everything, everyone has a history and evolves.”. Understanding current ideas through the flow of ideas and creating new ideas from old ones can be learned from this chapter. The fifth element, the Quintessential Element, is all about change. It manifests us to “Just do it” and to transform ourselves using effective thinking and different strategies. Combined, The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking provides us an overview of topics which can help us to improve ourselves and to gain a better self assessment. Burger & Starbird offer us real-life stories, engaging examples, and concrete methods and strategies that allow us to attain a deeper understanding. The authors encourages individuals to take on goal that they are passionate about so that they can implement creative and effective ways to accomplish them. Through real-life stories the book is offering us substantial evidence to prove the importance of changing habits and methods. “Just do It” is one of the main strategies which Burger & Starbird are presenting us. Action is required in order to change our habits and therefore our effective thinking. In conclusion, Burger & Starbird are demonstrating that we can only become a more effective thinker if we change our strategies. It is all about habits and methods. We can learn how to move on continually, create new ideas and transform ourselves to be effective learners. 5 Elements of Effective Thinking leads us through a variety of methods and strategies which can change our thinking in a way we’ll get a deeper understanding and engagement on topics, accept missteps and even see them as success, create a habit to question effectively, see the flowing stream of thoughts, and transform ourselves.