Amy E. Herman

"Sharp and original, this book should alter how readers look at the world." --Kirkus Reviews "Visual Intelligence will guide you to be a more critical observer of what is before you without making those inadvertent assumptions that may sabotage your work." --John J. Sprague, inspector, commanding officer, Force Investigation Division, NYPD How could looking at Monet's water lily paintings help save a company millions? How can noticing people's footwear foil a terrorist attack? How can your choice of adjective win an argument, calm your children, or catch a thief? In her celebrated seminar, The Art of Perception, art historian Amy Herman has trained experts from many fields to perceive and communicate better. By showing people how to look closely at images, she helps them hone their "visual intelligence," a set of skills we all possess but few of us know how to use effectively. She has spent more than a decade teaching doctors to observe patients instead of their charts, helping police officers separate facts from opinions when investigating a crime, and training professionals from the FBI, the State Department, Fortune 500 companies, and the military to recognize the most pertinent and useful information. Her lessons highlight far more than the physical objects you may be missing; they teach you how to recognize the talents, opportunities, and dangers that surround you every day.

Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life

Visual Intelligence

BC Hark

Thankfully, there is a natural and easy buffer against letting the stress of speed and the steady stream of distraction overwhelm us: simply slowing down. In a commencement speech at Sarah Lawrence College, industrial designer and “Mythbuster” Adam Savage reminded the 2012 graduates that they didn’t have to be in a constant hurry, that they in fact had plenty of time: “You have time to fail. You have time to mess up. You have time to try again, and when you mess that up, you still have time.” Savage also reminds us of the ironic pitfall of impatience: “Rushing leads to mistakes, and mistakes slow you down far more than slowing down does.”

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