Book Review, Accidental Genius

I have been reading the book called, Accidental Genius, Using Writing to Generate Your Best Ideas, Insight, and Content, by Mark Levy. In chapter 15, Levy talks about creating a fictional board of directors in your mind and holding conversations (on paper) with these people to help talk through your business problems. He uses the ludicrous example of Abraham Lincoln as one of the people on the board. Levy talks about how difficult it is for him to imagine these people, and how he must write down a characterization of each of them. Personally, I do not understand why he finds this so difficult. I do not agree that it is a good idea to make up and talk to people (real or fictional people) in your imagination. If this is difficult for you to do, then don't do it. If it is easy for you to do, then you are either a gifted fiction story writer, or one step away from a split personality disorder, or both.

I am a stay-at-home mom. I do not have “work” problems to solve. My “board of directors” is my husband (president), myself (vice president), and my children (employees). It would be foolish to talk to imaginary people when I have the real people around me most of the time.

I do believe that this “free writing” Levy is advocating could help a person come up with a new angle to look at and solve a problem. I liked the section that talks about writing down all the facts you have on a subject/topic/problem (because it is another version of those lists I like to make). I agree that writing things down as you think of them can keep your brain on track. Levy points out that when we just think about something, we tend to digress into something else and are quickly completely off topic. He says to use free writing as a way to keep yourself focused, or as a way to direct your thinking.

Another thing he writes a whole chapter on is that “You Are What You Focus On” (chapter 21). I do believe this to be true. The things you choose to do, and the books you choose to read during your free time make you who you are. (If you spend all your free time practicing the flute, you won't be a very good golfer. Likewise, if you are golfing every chance you get, you won't be very good at playing the flute.) You become what you focus on. If you only focus on your horrible childhood and your abusive molesting family member (like my ex-husband seems to be doing), you will be lucky to escape turning into this same personality you despise. What you focus on is important. “It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.” – Oscar Wilde

In general, I think this book is a lengthy way of saying...Write it down. It was a slightly boring read, but had short enough chapters to keep me turning pages. And with the exception of chapter 15, Levy has some interesting ways to approach business problem solving through writing that I had not heard before. Now I am going to read Moby Dick.