I can’t fairly review Thinking Visually, by Malcolm Craig, because I’m not really his target audience, and I didn’t manage to read the book cover to cover. I did read Part One, though, and it reminded me that I really should take more notes, and that I should do it graphically. It’s a shame when you’re trying to think coherently about a subject, but you can’t remember the things that have already been thought about. Simple notes might help, but drawing diagrams is faster and more useful than linear note taking.

From the summary of chapter two: “The main purpose of diagramming is to help simplify everyday tasks such as problem solving, writing reports, making changes, and coping with information overload.”

The book describes a number of types of diagrams. Browse through a copy if you aren’t familiar with them:

• Algorithm
• Control
• Fishbone
• Flow
• Force-Field
• Influence
• Input-Output
• Mind Map
• Multiple-Cause
• Relationship
• Ring
• Sign
• Tree
• Window

My favorite diagram is the “mind map” – in fact, I use MindManager at work to help me keep a handle on the various projects that we have going on. It’s no more than a glorified outline, but I find it easier to manage the information when it is in “mind map” format.