The Quick and Easy Guide to Mind Map
by Thomas C. Randall
This book introduces the topic of mind mapping. A mind map is a diagram used to visually communicate the relationships between ideas. The mind map starts with a keyword or short phrase. Lines are drawn out to sub-ideas, then to sub-sub-ideas if applicable.
The book explains several uses for mind maps, such as:
- Brainstorming. “Association is the key to finding new ideas… The usage of keywords and short key phrases speeds up the process, which is crucial to the brainstorming process.”
- Creative Writing. “Trying to think chronologically from beginning to end, we put a limit on our creativity. The ideas don’t come necessarily in a linear order.”
- Studying. The author refers to Prof. Toni Krasnic who wrote How to Study with Mind Maps. Krasnic developed the Concise Learning Method (CLM).
- Presentations. Mind maps can be used to organize the presentation material or as the presentation itself. “People are discovering the benefits of using Mind Map in a presentation because it can present ideas in a more clear, concise and compelling manner.”
Mind maps can be hand drawn or created with software. The author recommends a free program called FreeMind. He also recommends a site called Biggerplate, which contains a library of mind maps uploaded by members.
The author has a good understanding of the subject matter and presents it in a well-organized fashion. On the downside, the writing suffers from numerous grammatical errors and some of the graphics are too small to read.
Randall, Thomas C. The Quick and Easy Guide to Mind Map: Improve Your Memory, Be More Creative, and Unleash Your Mind’s Full Potential. San Bernardino, California: [s.n.], 2012. Buy from Amazon.com
The Key Point 