Idea Mapping by Jamie Nast

Nast, Jamie. Idea Mapping: How to Access Your Hidden Brain Power, Learn Faster, Remember More, and Achieve Success in Business. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2006.

Idea maps are a means of capturing and organizing ideas using images and words in a way that shows how they are related. Concepts are arranged in blooms that radiate from a central idea or flows that link a string of ideas. The techniques of idea mapping allow you to see how ideas are associated and use simple images, color, and single words to help you recall and organize information.



Nast acknowledges those who have preceded her in developing the concepts of mind mapping. Recent promoters of these techniques include Tony Buzan (Mind Map) and Vanda North (BrainBloom). The concept goes back at least to the 13th Century when Ramon Llull created tree diagrams in which the trunk and branches represented a central theme and the ideas that flowed from it. Except for emphasizing the use of images and color, it reminds me somewhat of the slash method of note taking promoted by Evelyn Wood.

Much of the book is practical instruction on the idea mapping technique. The basic concept of idea mapping is simple. Nast’s advice will give you a head start on putting it to practical use.

Besides being a how-to manual, the book also shows the variety of ways you can use idea mapping. Some of the examples included in the book include a to-do list, outlines for pharmacy classes, books summaries and marketing plans.

I particularly like the examples included in the book. It is very interesting to see how others have used idea maps and how they look. Nast includes several maps from one person to show how they developed their skill over time. These maps transitioned from spiky branches of words to fluid and almost entirely graphical maps. As with most things, you master idea mapping through practice.