Following dictionary of the Polish language (PWN): to buzz – ‘to burn with a great flame’. Following Tony Buzan, the author of ‘Mind Maps’: make notes linearly, create schemes in such forms your brain works. The name of a mind genius and its functioning has a lot to do with above word in bold. Do you feel boredom or stimulation while making notes? It depends. If you decide to go with mind mapping concept, your head will be free and fully creative. What’s more, individual notions will determine developing others and you will hit the blue causing that what you map, could be perfectly suitable for paper insert in encyclopedia. Hop aboard and see for yourself that your mind’s coordinates are simply endless.

Tony Buzan – intellectual revolutionist?

Definitely! What’s more, not less important than Ken Robinson (intentional person placement). Buzan has a huge knowledge on brain functioning. Learning techniques are his thing and fortunately he wasn’t afraid to use these hints which improve learning effectiveness of thousands of students worldwide. In short – Buzan is a man who sat down and wrote the thing about colours. His method oscillates near relevant mind mapping so as to constantly increase semantic potential, train memory and reach the highest level in remembering this information which you will regard the most significant.

Let’s agree – intellectual work is no joke, although a decent drip coffee would certainly support such process. To what extent did you manage to develop your perception? And abilities of associating? What about remembering? Through the entire life we try to improve these activities, frequently stumbling through them. If you still search for the best way to optimize your brain functioning and you want to achieve real success at school or at work, high five to Buzan’s method.

Goodbye, linearity!

A happy one! With no tears! Can you believe it? This inconspicuous book is a solid compendium about brain thinking processes. However it should be noted that it is one among many theories, so while reading keep your scientific scepticism. In spite of some simplification and inaccuracies in Buzan’s methodology, it might be beneficial. Buzan shares with all the answers, among other things, how to activate such brain parts which were being unused so far. The colour and symbol – remember. Say loud goodbye to traditional ways of making notes which are simply boring and… little or less effective. Thanks to mind maps your learning process will become easier, pleasant (imagine it!), creative and effective. It is worth to mention that this book is versatile – it isn’t only a splendid book great for pupils and students, but also for teachers, academics, business or simply for everyone who want to improve their private comfort.

In book’s opening you can read:

‘We hope that reading this book will please you. It should be both a challenge and an encouragement. It will uncover the secrets about the brain and its functions as well as will show you the right way to achieve the freedom of the mind. This book was written to:

  1. Explain completely new definition of multidirectional thinking.
  2. Get used to revolutionary mindmapping method which can teach you how to think in multidirectional way.
  3. Give you an enormous intellectual freedom by showing that you can control a body and a train of thought, and that your creative potential is theoretically limitless.
  4. Present exercises which can improve your intellectual abilities.
  5. Please you with discovering new unusual mind world’.

 Here comes the keyword!

… a key to create the effective mind map. Keywords have great influence to the ability to create associations. Ok, we have words. What do we need more? An image. The structure of a mind map is well explained in separate chapter in the book. The topic division of the book deserves kudos. Buzan’s ‘Mind Maps’ are divided into 6 parts:

  • Nature architecture,
  • Basics,
  • Structure,
  • Fusion,
  • Praxis,
  • Annex.

In first part of the book we read about intellectual phenomena, brain functioning, its structure, about nonlinear thinking concept and mindmapping. Second part gives an answer how to increase intellectual possibilities and explains basic mindmapping techniques. Third part presents rules and recommendations of multidirectional thinking, shows how to develop your individual style of creating mind maps. In fourth part mind map are confronted with specific situations, e.g. with making decision or choice. Fifth part is about mind maps versus private life, family life, learning, working or making plans for the future. In sixth part there is a small quiz waiting for you – you can practice all the knowledge from the book.

The transparency and sorting, extensive description of individual issues, unusual impression of freedom (the author doesn’t impose things to readers) and a lot of inspirations are main advantages of this book. The book isn’t free from scientifically unreliable things what Buzan mentions, so it is worth to filter them through the prism of the up-to-date knowledge – however reading still can benefit you a lot. You must absolutely read it and remember that ‘Whoever and wherever you are, while reading these words, you are using the most wonderful, most tremendous, most complicated and secret tool in the entire universe – your brain’.

#teammindmapping – are you in?