Breakthrough thinking comes as a sudden, seemingly unaccountable moment of inspiration: From Archimedes' discovery in the bathtub of the principle of water displacement to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, from Brunelleschi's development of perspective drawing to the Impressionist revolution, from the taming of fire to the creation of the laser, it has shaped and advanced civilization.

David Perkins explores the common logic behind breakthroughs in many fields, historical periods, and evolutionary epochs. Drawing on a rich knowledge of both artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology, he sets forth a uniquely integrative theory of how insights occur. Along the way he offers dozens of often playful puzzles and illustrations that reveal the four key processes behind breakthrough thinking.