THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures

by Dan Roam

The best ideas don’t win—the clearest ones do. And the clearest way to think and communicate is through pictures, because your brain is wired for visual thinking. In this book, Dan Roam shows how anyone can use simple sketches to solve complex problems or explain your ideas persuasively.

In this summary, you’ll learn:

• A simple yet powerful visual thinking framework to sharpen your thinking, solve problems of any size, and sell ideas with impact.
• A practical 4-step process for looking at problems from multiple angles and finding better solutions.
• A comprehensive toolkit including: 6 crucial questions (6Ws) to uncover hidden insights and see opportunities others miss, the SQVID framework to explore/refine your ideas and present them in the most compelling way for your audience, and structured steps to explain complex visuals using show-and-tell.

Who should read this:

• Business professionals (consultants, leaders, managers, marketers, startup founders) who want to solve complex problems visually and pitch ideas more persuasively.
• Visual learners, creative professionals, and personal development enthusiasts who want to expand their creative thinking, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.