About Mind Maps
The mind map is one thinking tool every dedicated thinker needs. Few thinking tools offer the range and power of the mind map. It is so versatile a thinking technique that someone would have to write a book to explore all the possibilities. Luckily, someone did, Tony Buzan in his The Mind Map Book:
How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain’s Untapped Potential.
Increase Brain Power: Start a Thinker’s Library
This is a book worth buying and adding to your Thinker’s Library. If you don’t have one, start with this book. Buzan develops many exercises to help you develop different kinds of mind maps. Mind maps are a sure way to grow your brain power.
Tony Buzan does a through job explaining how to create mind maps and gives ample and beautiful illustrations, 84 color and 44 black and white.
The Brain, Pictures, and Memory
Mind maps are an almost perfect mnemonic (memory) aid. This is because the mind remembers images, pictures, and graphics astoundingly better than it remembers words and numbers. In other words, the brain remembers pictures better than words and numbers. And it isn’t even close.
Many Uses of Mind Maps
Buzan develops many ways your brain can use mind maps. You can use them for organizing, taking notes, writing, and thinking. Professors have mind mapped their courses. Students who have experienced writer’s block have used the mind map to break their impasse. Business presentations have been build using a mind map.
Once you have created a mind map, it will be locked into your brain as long-term memory. Whatever your field of study or life’s work, you should create at least one mind map to lock in important concepts and theories. Mind maps can also be used as an organizing tool when collecting research.
Tony divides his book into five divisions:
1. Natural Architecture
2. Foundations
3. Structure
4. Synthesis
5. Uses
Architecture of Your Brain
In “Division 1: Natural Architecture,” Buzan provides valuable information as to the architecture of the brain and how it works. He explores the normal way people take notes which is a linear process. He and his research team developed a more effective way of note taking using the brain’s natural architecture by using patterns and “radiant thinking.”
Your Brain’s Connection to Words and Images
In “Division 2: Foundations,” Buzan lays the groundwork for the connection between words and images. He uses brainstorming and association techniques to begin the process of building powerful mind maps.
Building Good Mind Maps
In “Division 3: Structure,” Buzan introduces his laws and recommendations on building good mind maps. One interesting technique is called synaesthesia, “the linking of the physical senses.” In essence it is a process of linking images with knowledge in a drawing technique.
Mind Map Synthesis
In “Division 4: Synthesis,” Buzan shows how to build the mind map, what to put in it, and what to emphasize. He introduces the dyadic mind map and how you can develop a complex classification system using a polycategoric Mind Map, There are also chapters on organizing other people’s ideas, memory, creative thinking, and how to do a group mind map.
Many Uses of Mind Maps
In “Division 5: Uses,” Buzan outlines the many uses for mind maps including personal, family, educational, business, and professional.
Recommendation: Buy The Mind Map Book
If you want to lock down an extremely versatile and powerful thinking tool, add The Mind Map Book:
How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain’s Untapped Potential to your Thinker’s Library.
Tony Buzan was one of the early brain pioneers who realized the brain was far more versatile, complex, and powerful than most scientists acknowledged. You might want to check out his other excellent brain books.