Connections: Imagination First & The Time Paradox

So what’s the connection between imagination and time perspectives? John Boyd, co-author of “The Time Paradox” has the answer. Years before he joined Google, he spent two weeks teaching 50 students at community colleges in San Mateo California to shift more towards a future time perspective through mental simulation. 

The outcomes were both astounding and heartbreaking. At the end of the study, two students reported “I set a goal and it came true. That never happened before.” and “At first I did not understand what this mental simulation was about. But it has helped me achieve one of my most important goals, staying out of jail” (quotes from The Time Paradox). 

While mental simulation sounds like science fiction, it’s actually a fancy word for using your imagination to mentally play act several possible scenarios. Yes, it’s as simple as that. If you’re reading this, you’re probably at least some future time perspective and may have trouble believing that community college students need to be taught to use their imaginations. It’s true though. Remember we view the world through our own time tinted glasses. 

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Book Review: Imagination First 

byEric Liu & Scott Noppe-Brandon

Innovation is highly valued in today’s economy and the authors strongly argue in “Imagination First” that the best means to increase innovation is to first increase the time and energy we invest in expanding our imaginations and creativity.  This seems obvious enough, but seriously, when was the last time your boss told you to go to your cubicle and use your imagination or be creative for the next hour or two?  Can you even imagine that scenario?

The bulk of the book is spent on 24 and 1/2 surprisingly uncheesey practices individuals and/or organizations can use to foster imagination and creativity.  The practices remind me a lot of IDEO’s 51 method cards.  I can’t choose a favorite, but I love the authors’ references to specific individuals to exemplify a particular practice.       

This was my go to book for several months.  I carried it nearly everywhere I went, discussed it with anyone who was interested and rationed its chapters as though it were an excellent work of fiction I just didn’t want to end.  But it’s nonfiction and you realize when you’re done reading that it doesn’t have to end – especially if you find the right group of people.

The authors, Eric Liu and Scott Noppe-Brandon have close ties to the Guiding Lights Network and Lincoln Center Institute.  Their collective expertise and experience in fostering and promoting creativity is evident throughout the book.   

You’ll have to order the book on-line or sweet talk me into loaning you my copy – I couldn’t find a library or bookstore in Nebraska with a copy.

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