This is one of the most entertaining books I have read in recent years. Reiman is widely (and justly) renowned for his creative mind. Literally, he thinks for a living. And is paid handsomely for his creative talent. This is an immensely personal book. He reviews his career, a career during which he prospered as the head of his own advertising agency and then sold it to his associates in order to “solo” (as Harriet Rubin would describe it), freeing himself from organizational limits to concentrate on what he does best. “My occupation is thinker and that’s who I am, employed at that. Frankly, I can’t wait until I get my new passport application. I’ll get a kick out of writing ‘Thinker’ in the occupation section. After all, if I’m right, thinkers will be going places in the next century.” 

If you think about it, think carefully about it, this is an intriguing idea: Come up with terrific ideas and sell them for enormous sums of money. (That in itself is a terrific idea.) In reality, obviously, there are very few people who have the talent to “think for a living” as Reiman does. However, and this is the single greatest value of the book, literally everyone CAN learn from Reiman how to think more creatively in his or her career situation...and to think more creatively about how to improve that situation. Moreover, Reiman has some excellent insights into how to improve one’s mental and spiritual health. His values are unashamedly old-fashioned. He seems totally committed to his marriage and parenthood. He seems to have a deep and abiding faith in God. He clearly agrees with Joseph Campbell who once said, “The privilege of a lifetime is to be who you are.” 

For the sake of discussion, let’s assume that you are unwilling and/or unable to make a total commitment to thinking as an occupation. I mean full-time occupation. Nevertheless, Reiman explains how his own experiences can help you to increase and enhance your creative (as opposed to analytical) skills, how to apply them more effectively to the personal as well as professional responsibilities entrusted to your care. Reiman observes, “As intellectual capital becomes of greater value to humankind than concrete capital, the world will experience dramatic changes.... The measurement of success will be based on one’s ability to create from within one’s mind rather than outside. Idea rich will take the place of asset rich.” I presume to add that ideas are now (or will soon become) the most valuable of assets. That is what “I-commerce” is really all about and it has only begun to have an impact. 

Here is a brief, revealing excerpt from the final chapter: “I hope this book, in some small way, plays a role in helping to create the environment in which compassion and prayer, wisdom and kindness, humility and grace become the most powerful, unstoppable big ideas for the next century. If they do, thinking for a living, in the broadest sense of thinking for a rich life, will enrich us all.”

Order Thinking for a Living here. 

Find the full list of Robert Morris's Business Nuggets featured by Eastbook.com here.

 

Thinking for a Living 1998 Hardcover Edition	Thinking for a Living 1998 Hardcover Edition

 

Search	Find Books  Keywords
Search	Find Books  Keywords