The Aha! Moment is not bogged down with scientific detail and tech talk; in fact, it asks a multitude of absurd questions meant to promote innovative and logical brainstorming. Jones gives dozens of examples from his own body of work... While his examples dominate more than half of the book, they are intriguing and stimulating, acting as a means to promote creativity in fellow scientists and artists. -- Aimee Jodoin Foreword Reviews A top pick not to be limited to science holdings, this will reach many a general-interest reader with its fascinating, readable and lively insights. Midwest Book Review David Jones sees himself as the court jester of science and, as with jesters of old, he is allowed to say things that other mortals might think but dare not speak... Most of the book is an eclectic blend of Jones the chemist and Daedalus the mad scientist and together they make entertaining reading. You'd be mad not to buy it -- John Emsley Chemistry World A practical blueprint to bolster one's own creative process, a treasure map to innovative insights. -- Bob Grant The Scientist A fascinating insight into one man's never-ending search for ideas. -- Jessica Griggs New Scientist
Preface: Creativity in My Career
1. A Theory of Creativity
2. The Creative Environment
3. Thoughts on the Random Ideas Generator
4. Intuition and Odd Notions
5. Creativity in Scientific Papers
6. Heat and Gravity
7. Astronomical Musings
8. Rotating Things
9. Explosions and Fuses
10. Tricks with Optics
11. Properties of Materials
12. Physical Phenomena I Have Noticed
13. Odd Notions I Have Played With
14. Literary Information
15. Inventions We Need but Don't Have
16. A List of Silly Questions
17. A Short Guide to Being Creative
Notes
Index