Book Review: Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam

VizThink Staff

VizThink Staff


3/18/08

Share This

Twitter
FaceBook
LinkedIn

Over the next 12 months, there are a number of new books coming out related to visual thinking many of which are from facilitators at our most recent conference.  The first of these is from Dan Roam and his new book, The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures.  For your convenience, we’ve divided up the 59 minute and 12 second podcast into 3 digestable segments.

In this first 29 minute, 30 second segment, we talk about:

Who can do this?
Do you need particular skills?
What can it be used for?
What are the 6 ways we see?
How are the 6 ways we see related to the ways we can show information?
How to use the framework to get started on selecting a particluar visual approach?

Segment 1


Hint: Use the Full Screen Button to see this video in greater detail.

You may also download the audio here…

MP3 Audio File

In the second 10 minute, 46 second segment, we continue with topics such as:

What role does animation (or action) play in understanding?
What is SQVID and how can it be used?
How does SQVID relate to the 6 ways of seeing/showing?
How do frameworks help beginners get started?
Are frameworks for advanced users?

Segment 2


Hint: Use the Full Screen Button to see this video in greater detail.

You may also download the audio here…

MP3 Audio File

In the final 18 minute, 56 second segment, we discuss a series of controversial topics brought up in the book including:

Pie Charts vs. Bar Charts
   Are pie charts a good representation of data?
   Do bar charts do a better job than pie charts?
   When should each type of chart be used?
Computers vs. Hand Drawn
   When do computers excel over hand drawn for visualization?
   When does hand drawn visualization excel over computers?
Complexity vs. Simplicity
   How do words and pictures relate?  Is it one or the other?
   Is simple better than complex?
   Is simple vs. complex even the right debate?
   What is the role of clarity and how does it relate to complexity and simplicity?
   What is the role of polish in communications?

Segment 3


Hint: Use the Full Screen Button to see this video in greater detail.

You may also download the audio here…

MP3 Audio File

No related posts.

Article Tags:  

Join the conversation...

Sign Up Now

Share This

Twitter
FaceBook
LinkedIn
  • http://idea-sandbox.com/ Paul (from Idea Sandbox)

    Thank you for putting this together.

    Great stuff!

    I can’t get enough of Dan talking about this book.

  • http://idea-sandbox.com Paul (from Idea Sandbox)

    Thank you for putting this together.

    Great stuff!

    I can’t get enough of Dan talking about this book.

  • http://www.tangentconsulting.com.au/ Geoff Brown

    Hi guys, great podcast and I have Dan’s book already.

    A technical question … I am about to get a dedicated podcasting blog started up … “How did you do the visual slideshow during the interview with ?Dan”?

    I am familiar with slidecast (via http://www.slideshare.com) and sketchcast (www.sketchcast.com.au), but not this tool.

    Warm Regards

    Geoff

  • http://www.tangentconsulting.com.au Geoff Brown

    Hi guys, great podcast and I have Dan’s book already.

    A technical question … I am about to get a dedicated podcasting blog started up … “How did you do the visual slideshow during the interview with ?Dan”?

    I am familiar with slidecast (via http://www.slideshare.com) and sketchcast (www.sketchcast.com.au), but not this tool.

    Warm Regards

    Geoff

  • Pingback: The back of the napkin « Web 2.0 and Management

  • http://interreality.org/~reed Reed

    If you have an amazon affiliate thing, how about a link to order the book and kick back a few bucks to vizthink.com?

  • http://interreality.org/~reed Reed

    If you have an amazon affiliate thing, how about a link to order the book and kick back a few bucks to vizthink.com?

  • Pingback: Will's Thoughtstream

  • Pingback: claxus blog | writings on design and learning » blog archive » Sketching is Everything. Sketches are Nothing

  • Pingback: No.8 - Back of a Napkin - Dan Roam | Steve Livingston

  • http://theoutsourcebot.com/ seo company

    I subscribed to your blog when is the next postHave a nice dayslip gilly______________________________________________

  • http://theoutsourcebot.com seo company

    I subscribed to your blog when is the next post

    Have a nice day
    slip gilly
    ______________________________________________

  • http://www.comfortersforteens.net/ Comforters for teens

    If money or portability are your primary considerations, then get a used copy of the first edition, as it communicates the central ideas in an almost identical fashion and is easier to carry around. However, if a few more dollars and a slightly-bigger book don't bother you, consider buying this new edition, as it's subtly-revised diagrams and improved explanation of key brain science concepts make it easier to understand on the first read. For more detail on the differences between this and the previous edition, read on…

  • http://www.comfortersforteens.net/ Comforters for teens

    As a person who strongly believed that I could NEVER draw in my life, Dan shared with me (in just few minutes during our 800-CEO-READ meeting) that my thinking was flawed. He proved to me that I could DRAW and in fact he proved to me right then and there that EVERYONE could draw.

    Life has never been the same after that.

  • http://www.salenewbalance.com Nike air force

    Well , the view of the passage is totally correct ,your details is really reasonable and you guy give us new balance 1300 valuable informative post, I totally agree the standpoint of upstairs. I often surfing on this forum when I m free and I find there are so much good information we can learn in this forum!

  • http://www.usa-basketball-shoes.com usa basketball shoes

    The post is very well.So I often come in . I believe all of us like fashion. Recently,I browse the web ,I found these websites are pretty good. Let everybody can be satisfied. basketball shoes outlet

  • http://marriedwomenlookingforaffairs.org Married Women Looking

    Cool blog, just bookmarked it for later reference

  • http://sarakeane.com Married Women Seeking Married

    I have never been able to draw…love the blog though :-)

  • http://www.medyumburak.com medyum

    I have never been able to draw…love the blog though :-)

  • http://www.imigyled.com/product/mian LED Ceiling Lights

    A good comics tell people a different side of life.